A fast-moving wildfire in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has burned over 20 square miles (52 square kilometers), but fortunately, no injuries have been reported, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The fire, located in southern New Jersey’s Lacey and Ocean townships, is expected to continue growing before forecasted rain later this week.
The fire has forced the evacuation of about 5,000 residents, though they have been allowed to return home. A commercial building and some vehicles were destroyed, while 12 structures remained under threat by Wednesday evening. Despite the fire’s intensity, officials noted that it is burning in an unpopulated area.
New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Shawn LaTourette, emphasized that the fire is still very active and that the affected area may expand as firefighters work to control the blaze. He described it as the second-worst wildfire in the past 20 years, following a 2007 fire that burned 26 square miles (67 square kilometers).
A section of the Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey’s busiest highways, had been closed for several hours but reopened Wednesday morning after officials cleared a roughly 7-mile stretch in the southern part of the state. Acting Governor Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency, with officials reporting that about 50% of the fire had been contained by Wednesday afternoon.
Video footage released by the state’s fire service agency showed thick smoke and intense flames as firefighters battled the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Forest fires are common in the Pine Barrens, a protected reserve covering 1.1 million acres. The region’s quick-draining sandy soil, low humidity, and strong winds make it prone to fires, especially in spring. The area has been under a drought until recently, and while early spring rains helped, low humidity and dry conditions continue to pose a significant fire risk.
The fire has also led to temporary power outages, with Jersey Central Power and Light cutting power to about 25,000 customers. By Wednesday afternoon, power had been restored.
The fire’s impact has been felt in local communities, with residents like Debi Schaffer sharing stories of evacuating with her two dogs while her husband stayed behind with their chickens. Although the fire is near an alpaca farm, the property has been unaffected, and the animals are safe.
This wildfire is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week.