Ocean County Wildfire Forces Evacuations, Closes Roads

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.

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.

The latest update said that 12 structures were threatened 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.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office says the Parkway might have to close due to the smoke. A traffic camera on the Parkway in Waretown is showing insane smoke plumes.

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

The fire is impacting about 150 acres and is zero percent contained as of 3 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..