BARNEGAT, NJ – April 24, 2025 – A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, continues to burn through New Jersey’s Pinelands, scorching over 12,000 acres in Ocean County and prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents. The blaze, which ignited on April 22, 2025, in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Barnegat Township, has led to a state of emergency declaration and widespread power outages, with officials warning it could become the state’s largest wildfire in two decades. As firefighters battle to contain the flames, the region faces significant challenges exacerbated by drought, climate change, and urban-wildland interfaces.
Scale and Impact of the Jones Road Wildfire
As of Wednesday, April 23, the Jones Road Wildfire had consumed 11,500 to 12,000 acres and was only 30–35% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The fire forced the evacuation of approximately 5,000 residents across Ocean, Lacey, and Barnegat townships, temporarily closed a 17-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway, and left 25,000 customers without power after Jersey Central Power & Light cut electricity to ensure firefighter safety. While no homes or lives have been lost, one commercial building, several outbuildings, and vehicles have been destroyed. The fire’s rapid spread, fueled by 15–25 mph wind gusts and dry conditions, has raised concerns about its potential to surpass the 17,000-acre wildfire that burned in the same region in May 2007.
Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection, noted, “This could very well end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years.” Acting Governor Tahesha Way, who declared a state of emergency on April 23, emphasized the absence of fatalities or residential losses, stating, “We’ve truly averted a major disaster.” Fire officials expect the blaze to burn for several more days, with containment projected by the weekend if forecasted rain arrives.
Historical Context: New Jersey’s Wildfire Statistics
New Jersey, while not typically associated with large-scale wildfires like Western states, has a significant history of wildland fires, particularly in the Pinelands National Reserve. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the state averages 1,500 wildfires annually, burning approximately 7,000 acres. However, 2025 has seen an alarming spike in fire activity, with 662 wildfires burning 16,572 acres so far this year—nearly twice the number of fires and over 50 times the acreage compared to 2024’s 310 fires and 315 acres.
Notable historical wildfires provide context for the current crisis:
2007 Pinelands Fire: Burned 17,000 acres, the largest in recent history, caused by a military flare in the same region as the current blaze.
2023 Manchester Township Fire: Scorched 3,859 acres, leading to the evacuation of 170 structures but no loss of life.
2024 Wharton State Forest Fire: Burned 2,300 acres, prompting campground evacuations.
November 2024 Jennings Creek Fire: Affected several thousand acres across New Jersey and New York, highlighting the region’s vulnerability.
Losses from these fires vary. In 2023, New Jersey reported 2.1 deaths and 6.4 injuries per 1,000 fires, aligning with the national average, while residential structure fires saw 5.8 deaths and 19.7 injuries per 1,000 incidents. Economic losses are harder to quantify, but wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, like Ocean County, threaten significant property damage. For comparison, U.S. wildfires in 2024 caused $1.8 billion in damages, with New Jersey’s share typically lower but rising due to increasing fire frequency.
Main Challenges in Combating New Jersey Wildfires
The Jones Road Wildfire underscores several critical challenges facing New Jersey’s wildfire response, rooted in environmental, logistical, and societal factors:
Drought and Climate Change:
New Jersey is grappling with prolonged drought conditions, with 87% of the state classified as “abnormally dry,” 26% under moderate drought, and 4% in severe drought as of November 2024. Record-low rainfall—October 2024 was the driest in 120 years—has left vegetation bone-dry, increasing fire risk. Climate change is extending wildfire seasons, with warmer winters and earlier springs creating longer periods of vulnerability. A 1°C temperature rise can increase burned land by up to 600%, according to some estimates, amplifying the intensity and frequency of fires.
Urban-Wildland Interface:
The Pinelands, covering 1.1 million acres, is interspersed with residential communities, creating a high-risk urban-wildland interface. The Jones Road Wildfire threatened 1,320 structures, highlighting the danger to homes built near flammable vegetation. As more residents move into these areas, the potential for property loss and evacuation challenges grows, complicating firefighting efforts.
Resource and Containment Challenges:
Despite the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s robust infrastructure—68 full-time staff, 1,000 part-time firefighters, 21 fire towers, and an aviation wing—containing a fire of this magnitude is daunting. The Jones Road Wildfire’s rapid growth, driven by strong winds and low humidity, overwhelmed initial containment efforts, reaching only 10% containment by Tuesday night. Grounding air support due to unauthorized drones, as noted in state guidelines, further hampers suppression efforts.
Public Awareness and Preparedness:
While New Jersey has implemented tools like the Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal and Stage 3 fire restrictions banning wood and charcoal fires, public compliance remains a challenge. Unintentional ignitions, such as those from military activities or equipment sparks, contribute to fire outbreaks. Educating residents on fire-safe practices and water conservation is critical, especially as drought persists.
Health and Environmental Impacts:
Thick smoke from the wildfire has degraded air quality, posing risks to respiratory health, particularly for vulnerable populations. The 2023 Canadian wildfires, which increased asthma-related emergency department visits by 17% in New Jersey, serve as a reminder of smoke’s far-reaching effects. Additionally, wildfires threaten ecosystems, water resources, and infrastructure, with long-term recovery costs adding to economic burdens.
Path Forward: Mitigation and Resilience
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, bolstered by a $3 million budget increase following the 2023 wildfire season, is intensifying prevention efforts. Governor Phil Murphy’s administration has urged wildfire awareness and water conservation, while the state’s Climate Change Resource Center provides tools for communities to build resilience. Prescribed burns, Firewise community programs, and enhanced mapping tools like the Risk Explorer are critical to reducing future risks.
As the Jones Road Wildfire continues to burn, firefighters are leveraging lighter winds and anticipated weekend rainfall to gain control. However, the blaze serves as a stark reminder of New Jersey’s growing wildfire threat in an era of climate change. “We’ve made incredible progress, but this fire is not under full control,” LaTourette said. “We need residents to stay vigilant and support our efforts.”
For updates on the wildfire and safety guidelines, visit the New Jersey Forest Fire Service website at www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/fire/.
Sources: New Jersey Forest Fire Service, CNN, The New York Times, Reuters, WHYY, USFA, EPA, X posts
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