SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY – A fast-moving wildfire in Ocean County has scorched more than 12,000 acres and continues to burn, with smoke still filling the air and firefighters working to prevent further damage. Officials say the Jones Road Wildfire, first reported on April 22, could become New Jersey’s largest wildfire in nearly two decades.
The fire started as just 5 acres, but by 10 a.m. the next day, it had grown to 11,500 acres. Within an hour of that update, it had reached 12,500 acres and was 40 percent contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Officials expect full containment at around 15,410 acres, though that number could grow. It began on the Barnegat/Waretown border and has traveled through both towns to Lacey.
Firefighters battle the Jones Road Wildfire. (Photo courtesy New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection)
“The expectation is that the number of acres will grow in a place that is unpopulated and that is more open wilderness,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “In order to contain the fire more burnout operations are necessary, and that will likely increase the overall acreage.”
Bill Donnelly, Chief of the NJ Forest Fire Service said that based on the weather, including the humidity and intermittent breezes, he believe the fire would continue to burn until there was some precipitation. “Based on the forecast, it looks like Friday night into Saturday,” he said. “I tend to believe we should have the fire contained by the weekend as long as we get the precipitation that’s forecasted.”
Photo courtesy New Jersey DEP
Weather, Winds, And Wildfire Season
Fire officials blame the rapid spread on dry weather, low humidity, strong winds, and peak spring wildfire season.
“We’re at the peak right now,” said Fire Warden Trevor Raynor. “It doesn’t get worse than this time of year in New Jersey. Dry fuels, drought conditions, and wind all made it harder to stop.”
Raynor said the fire was first spotted by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower at 9:45 a.m. on April 22. When firefighters arrived, it had already grown to 10-20 acres. Despite air support and a quick response, the fire quickly jumped containment lines, even crossing the Garden State Parkway and spreading to Route 9.
Chief Bill Donnelly of the NJ Forest Fire Service added that the state has seen more than double the number of wildfires compared to this time last year. “Last year, we had 310 fires burning 315 acres. This year, we’re already at 662 fires burning over 16,500 acres.”
Photo courtesy New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Evacuations And Power Outages
More than 5,000 residents were evacuated, and 13,000 homes were threatened. While no homes were lost, one commercial building – Liberty Overhead Doors in the Lacey Industrial Park – was destroyed. Another nearby business, Top Coat Paving, suffered some damage.
“Liberty lost their entire building and a recent delivery of materials worth six figures,” said Lacey Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh. “They put it inside thinking it would be safer, but the fire got it anyway.”
Lacey Mayor Peter Curatolo said the town helped relocate seniors with medical needs from the Pheasant Run community. “We had no power, no cots, no medicine. With help from county and municipal partners, we got everyone out safely to Manchester High School where they had nurses, medicine, and proper support.”
Holtec International, the company overseeing the decommissioning of the Oyster Creek nuclear site, responded to rumors of fire damage at the location.
“Earlier this evening, embers from the fire blew onto a small patch of grass on plant property, north of all buildings and structures, and was completely and safely extinguished,” shared Pat O’Brien, Director of Government Affairs, saying there was no structural damage at the site.
O’Brien added that all buildings and spent fuel storage facilities are built to withstand fires, and Holtec remains in constant contact with state and local emergency services.
Photo courtesy New Jersey DEP
In the Township of Ocean, Mayor Ben LoParo confirmed several evacuations, including at the Greenbriar Oceanaire community. A shelter set up at Waretown United Methodist Church was closed after the power went out and the church’s generator failed to work. Residents were redirected to Southern Regional High School, where their pets were all welcome.
The fire caused power outages for about 25,000 customers, many of whom had power restored by early afternoon on April 23. Chris Hoenig, a spokesman for First Energy of which JCP&L is a subsidiary, confirmed they had to de-energize lines connected to the Oyster Creek substation as a safety measure.
Barnegat Police Chief Jason Carroll, Ocean Township Police Chief Michel Rogalski, and Lacey Police Chief Christopher W. Kenny attended the press briefing and addressed community concerns. They dismissed rumors of break-ins related to the evacuations, stating that no such incidents had occurred. As a precaution, all three departments increased patrols in the affected neighborhoods to ensure residents’ safety.
The smoke from the April 22, 2025 wildfire as seen from Seaside Park. (Photo by Linda Henne)
Progress, But Smoke Remains
More than 100 firefighters from across the region remained on the scene as of the morning of April 23, responding to the massive wildfire with a coordinated mutual aid effort.
According to LaTourette, local fire departments worked through their county coordinators to bring in support from Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Monmouth, and all of Ocean County. The additional departments provided both manpower and equipment, helping to fill water tankers and position crews in areas where homes were at risk. Their mission, LaTourette said, was clear: protect threatened homes and support the front-line response.
The smoke seen over Downtown Toms River (Photo by Paul C. Williams)
The cause of the fire will be investigated through a joint effort involving local police departments, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service. Donnelly said the Wildland Fire Task Force, which includes experts in wildfire investigations, will first identify the area where the fire began and then work to determine what caused it.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billheimer was among the many officials who attended the press conference set up by the DEP and State Forest Service. Others included multiple law enforcement agencies and all three members of the Ninth Legislative District.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Carmen Amato expressed their gratitude to “local police, fire departments, County Sheriff’s officers, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and all of our first responders, for their swift and courageous response to the wildfire,” thanking them for their dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts “in the face of danger by protecting lives, homes, and natural resources.”
Elected officials, such as Lacey Mayor Peter Curatolo (speaking) joined officials to inform the public on the state of the fire. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Scope Of Danger
The last wildfire of this scale in New Jersey happened in 2006 when a fire started by a military training exercise at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range consumed over 17,000 acres and forced thousands to evacuate.
LaTourette said that the ongoing wildfire was of particular concern in the neighborhoods east of the Parkway and Route 9. “From an active fire management perspective, we have moved the active fire west of those residential areas,” he said. “There is an air quality alert in effect for that area.”
Smoke from the fire remains a concern for nearby residents. Officials advised residents to stay in their houses with windows closed and take appropriate safety precautions.
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