WILDFIRE UPDATE: Jones Road Wildfire - Ocean & Lacey Townships, Ocean County

SIZE & CONTAINMENT
🔥 15,300 acres
🔥 60% contained

STRUCTURES THREATENED
⚠️ 4 structures threatened
✅ Evacuations are 100% lifted for the approximately 5,000 residents evacuated on April 22 in Lacey and Ocean townships.

PROPERTY DAMAGE
⚠️ 1 commercial building destroyed
⚠️ Multiple outbuildings and vehicles destroyed
⚠️ A complete damage assessment is underway

ROADS AFFECTED
✅ Rt. 532 (Wells Mills Road) has reopened
✅ Garden State Parkway has reopened
⚠️ Unimproved roadways within the fire perimeter remain closed

RESOURCES DEPLOYED
🚒 Forest Fire Service fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters and ground crews

FIRE CAUSE
🔥 A Waretown man has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with Jones Road Wildfire. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/1020799913484814

NEXT UPDATE
⏰ Approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, April 25

NO DRONES IN FIRE ZONES
Please remember, “No Drones in Fire Zones - If YOU fly, WE can't!” More info: https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/565381699026640

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Helpful Wildfire Terminology
🔥 Wildfire - An uncontrolled fire burning the different types of vegetation that cover the land. A wildfire is considered a “major wildfire” after it exceeds 100 acres in size.
🔥 Containment - When reporting on a wildfire a percentage of containment will be given, which will state how much of the fireline has been completed.
🔥 Backfire - A fire intentionally set along the interior edge of a fireline by Forest Fire Service staff to consume fuel in the path of a wildfire and/or to change the direction of force of a fire’s convection column.
🔥 Fireline - The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil.
🔥 Threatened - Critical infrastructure, roads, homes and commercial buildings that are in the vicinity of a wildfire.

#NJFFS #NJForestFireService #NewJerseyDEP