OCEAN COUNTY – The massive wildfire burning deep in southern Ocean County offered some reminders for local residents. Life at the Jersey Shore isn’t just about sun and sand – it’s also about preparing for the real danger of forest fires.
The Jones Road Wildfire, first spotted at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, scorched 15,300 acres in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. By evening, the fire had crossed both the Garden State Parkway and Route 9, forcing about 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey townships to evacuate. Several outbuildings, one commercial building, and multiple vehicles were destroyed.
Fire officials confirmed the cause as an improperly extinguished bonfire, and a Waretown man now faces aggravated arson charges. Joseph Kling, 19, is accused of setting pallets on fire and leaving the scene before the flames were extinguished. Despite the charge, he is considered innocent until proven guilty. Another youth has also been charged.
State officials have warned that with rising temperatures and drought conditions, the threat of major wildfires in New Jersey has increased over the past decade.
Even towns beyond the fire’s direct path felt the effects. In Barnegat, police urged residents in some neighborhoods to voluntarily evacuate, even though the fire hadn’t reached town limits. According to Barnegat Police Lt. Nicholas Venuto, voluntary evacuations are often announced out of an abundance of caution when fast-moving fires could change direction at any moment.
“The wind could be blowing east, and everybody could think they’re safe,” said Venuto. “However, because of the environment the fire lives in, it might create its own wind and go in a different direction.”
Barnegat officials decided to send out alerts regarding voluntary evacuations on the first day of the fire based on information they received from the command post that the situation could change – but was not yet emergent. Venuto explained that encouraging voluntary evacuations gives residents a better chance to leave safely before roads become jammed or conditions worsen, a lesson learned from past emergencies.
“We learned important lessons from the 2007 Warren Grove fire and even Superstorm Sandy,” said Venuto. “The key is being proactive and prepared.”
Barnegat Police Lt. Nicholas Venuto urged fire preparedness. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Planning Ahead Saves Lives
Barnegat and many other communities are enrolled in New Jersey’s Firewise program, which offers residents valuable information about protecting themselves and their homes in the event of a wildfire emergency. The program’s mantra focuses on the “Ready, Set, Go!” concept.
For starters, residents should put together a “to-go bag.” It should include a few days’ worth of clothes, important papers like birth certificates, bank records and estate planning documents, medications, valuables, chargers, and food and water supplies, such as energy bars, nuts, and instant noodles. Toiletries like toothbrushes and toothpaste should also be packed. For families with pets, travel kits for animals are just as important.
Waretown resident Patricia Kennedy said that the mandatory evacuation of her community brought her to the realization that she should always have a bag packed with essentials. “Or at least one partially packed with a checklist by the door to the garage. I would have forgotten my pills but my friend spotted them and handed them to me to put in my bag.”
“I feel like I should have been carrying my passport around,” shared Jamie Harrison of Waretown.
Lisa Shwidock, who lives in the same area, said that she had all her documents in one bag and ready to leave when asked to evacuate. “Nevertheless, I always believed my go bag was complete…until the fire. Then I realized how unprepared I really was.”
Venuto also shared a tip for two-car households: park one car at a safe location – such as a Parkway rest stop. Families can then manage evacuation together and ensure fewer vehicles are on the road.
Photo courtesy New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Residents with special needs should register with their local police department in advance. Forms are available on municipal websites and allow first responders to assist residents with mobility impairments, medical needs, or other challenges during emergencies.
“It’s all confidential,” said Venuto. “It helps us plan ahead and deliver help quickly when needed.”
The form asks for basic information like mobility or medical challenges; the use of oxygen, a wheelchair, or whether the resident has cognitive impairments. It also requests emergency contact information.
Another important step is signing up for emergency alerts through Nixle. Residents can receive urgent text messages or emails about evacuations, road closures, and other hazards. Signing up is simple: just text your ZIP code to 888777 or visit nixle.com.
Although police cannot physically force residents to leave, staying behind can put enormous strain on emergency services. “When we advise you to evacuate, it’s because the risk is real – not just for you, but for the first responders who would have to come back and save you,” Venuto emphasized.
Photo courtesy New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
“We learned the hard way during Sandy,” he said. “We had people who lived on the water and refused to evacuate. Hours later, four officers were swimming out to rescue them.”
Although the Jones Road Wildfire spared lives, it left many residents shaken – a stark reminder of the risks of living so close to nature.
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