New Jersey forest fire prompts thousands of evacuations and closes a major highway

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Updated 12:26 AM CDT, April 23, 2025

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire burning in New Jersey on Tuesday forced thousands of people to evacuate and closed a stretch of a major highway.

The Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey’s busiest highways, was closed between Barnegat and Lacey townships, according to the New Jersey Fire Service.

More than 1,300 structures were threatened and about 3,000 residents were evacuated, the fire service said. Shelters were open at two high schools, according to the Barnegat Police Department.

The Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request of the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire’s command post Tuesday evening, including thousands in Barnegat Township. The company said on X that it doesn’t expect to restore the power before Wednesday.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-new-jersey-garden-state-parkway-67aa9857c28eadfaeb54ebc9f0ce1028

[wolfie001]

1. Maryland hasn't had substantial rain in well over a year

Once the storm front passes Appalachia, the Bermuda high evaporates all of the rain. Nothing coming from the once traditional nor'easter storms to link up with.

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. Wildfires are not just disasters that happen "out West". Good thing Republicans aren't cutting...

fire relief programs, like prescribed burns, nationwide.

[riversedge]

3. Oh my!! That looks massive. I do hope folks are following the Officials directives.

[Wicked Blue]

4. I'm about 20 miles north of the fire. The fire is not far from a closed nuclear power plant.

The Garden State Parkway and Route 9 have re-opened according to NJ.com.

NJ.com

A wildfire raging in Ocean County reached 8,500 acres on Tuesday night, prompting concerns for residents, homes, wildlife — and a closed power plant in Lacey Township.

Oyster Creek, the former nuclear plant, was shut down in 2018 but “spent fuel” remains on-site and a small fire was reported (and put out) earlier in the evening, a spokesman for the property told NJ Advance Media.

The former power plant is in one of the areas currently under the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s mandatory evacuation. As of 10:30 p.m. the fire, dubbed the “Jones Road Forest Fire,” was just 10% contained.

Earlier in the evening “embers from the fire” blew onto a small patch of grass on the power plant’s property north of buildings and structures there, according to Patrick O’Brien, a spokesman for Holtec, which owns the power plant property.
That fire was “completely and safely extinguished,” he said.

https://www.nj.com/ocean/2025/04/power-plant-staff-is-on-round-the-clock-watch-as-nearby-nj-wildfire-rages.html

PHOTO from NJ Department of Environmental Protection via NBC News.

[judesedit]

5. I used to live on Long Beach Island in Peahala Park

Hope the fire doesn't spread. That would be even more horrible. Thanks for informing us

[elleng]

8. Visited Long Beach Island years ago,

for a sunmer vacay to mountains (VT) and Beach! Daughter + family lives in NJ now, and holidays @ L B I often. Kids love the beach.

[electric_blue68]

6. Scary! Good Luck to all affected!

[Fla Dem]

7. So sorry for everyone affected. Wildlife too. They have nowhere to go.