Overview

• The Jones Road Wildfire has scorched approximately 13,250 acres in the Pine Barrens and is now 50% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
• Mandatory evacuation orders for 5,000 residents have been lifted, and power has been restored to the 25,000 customers affected by preemptive cuts during the fire's spread.
• The fire, which began on April 22 in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, threatened over 1,300 structures but caused no reported injuries or fatalities.
• Firefighters have used bulldozers, air support, and backburning techniques to slow the blaze, with full containment expected in the coming days.
• The fire's cause remains under investigation, with officials citing drought conditions, dry vegetation, and strong winds as factors in its rapid growth.