Wildfire Scorches Thousands of Acres in New Jersey, Forcing Evacuations and Closing Garden State Parkway

A wildfire in southern New Jersey has burned over 8,500 acres of dense forest and forced the closure of an 11-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway. The blaze has prompted the evacuation of thousands and threatens over 1,300 structures. Firefighters are struggling to contain the fire, which is just 10% contained as of Tuesday night. The wildfire is fueled by regional drought conditions, which have also affected New York.

A wildfire in southern New Jersey has burned over 8,500 acres of dense forest and forced the closure of an 11-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway. The blaze, known as the Jones Road Wildfire, has prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents and threatens over 1,300 structures. Firefighters are struggling to contain the fire, which is just 10% contained as of Tuesday night. The wildfire is fueled by regional drought conditions, which have also affected New York [1].

The Jones Road Wildfire started on Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Lacey, Ocean and Barnegat townships in Ocean County, about halfway between Asbury Park and Atlantic City. The area, with a combined population of about 64,000 residents, is about 15 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. About 1,300 homes were forced to evacuate on Tuesday, but the evacuation orders were lifted by Wednesday morning [2].

The fire has caused significant transportation disruptions, with authorities closing nearly 20 miles of the Garden State Parkway during Tuesday’s evening commute. The unprecedented highway closure has created cascading traffic problems throughout Ocean County as motorists scramble to find alternative routes on already congested secondary roads [3]. The Garden State Parkway is a critical transportation artery that carries over 400,000 vehicles daily during peak periods.

The wildfire’s proximity to the Garden State Parkway highlights the vulnerability of critical transportation infrastructure to natural disasters. The Parkway corridor through Ocean County runs directly through portions of the Pine Barrens, an ecosystem naturally prone to fire activity, creating an inherent risk to this vital transportation artery [3].

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there is no timeline for full containment. The fire is expected to continue to burn for several days until rain comes on Friday or Saturday, New Jersey fire officials said at the briefing [1]. The blaze could become the largest in New Jersey in 20 years, said Shawn LaTourette, the state's commissioner of environmental protection [1].

The wildfire has also caused power outages, with about 25,000 residents remaining without power according to the Jersey Central Power & Light, which is owned by FirstEnergy (FE.N) [1]. The blaze has sparked several small blazes near a decommissioned nuclear power plant known as Oyster Creek, according to state officials [1].

The state has seen almost twice as many wildfires as usual in 2025, with 662 wildfires burning 16,572 acres. That compares with about 310 wildfires burning 315 acres last year [1]. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on its website that on average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of the state's forests each year [1].

The wildfire is a reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, which can have significant economic and societal impacts. Investors and financial professionals should monitor the situation closely, as the ongoing fire and transportation disruptions could have implications for regional economic activity and supply chains.

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/new-jersey-wildfire-could-become-states-largest-20-years-2025-04-23/
[2] https://www.newsbreak.com/nj-breaking-news-320684310/3974150087986-major-shore-traffic-nightmare-as-wildfire-closes-parkway
[3] https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/22/us/new-jersey-wildfire-evacuations/index.html