Ocean County Wildfire Closes GSP, Forces Evacuations

A wildfire in an Ocean County wildlife management area is sending thick clouds of smoke over the area and has forced mandatory evacuations and closed several roads, including a portion of the Garden State Parkway.

As of 5 pm, the Garden State Parkway is closed in both directions from mile markers 63 to 80.

Fire officials sent out the first alert about the fire at 12:22 pm Tuesday and announced the mandatory evacuations at about 3:45 pm.

At 5 pm, the update said that 16 buildings were threatened and have been evacuated along Bryant Road and Wells Mills Road, RT 532.

Evacuations are underway on Wells Road from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Radar is showing the smoke being pushed way out to sea.

The fire is impacting about 1200 acres and is zero percent contained as of 5 pm.

Crews are in the process of constructing new containment lines and reinforcing existing ones. A backfiring operation is underway to burn fuel in advance of the main body of fire.

Impacted Roads and Crews Onsite

- Rt. 532, Wells Mills Road, between Rt. 72 and the Garden State Parkway is closed.

- Bryant Road is closed between Wells Mills Road (Rt. 532)

Rt. 539 Jones Road is closed between RT. 532 and Bryant Road.

Forest Fire Service fire engines, bulldozers, and ground crews are fighting the fire. The Forest Fire Service says a helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water, along with another helicopter being used for observation are in service.

A contact airplane tanker capable of dropping 600 gallons of water is also being used..