Overview

• The Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, has expanded to 12,000 acres, making it one of the largest in the state in two decades.
• Containment efforts have reached 35%, with firefighters employing backburning tactics and air support to control the blaze.
• Evacuation orders for 3,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey Townships have been lifted, and the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 have reopened.
• Over 25,000 residents remain without power as safety measures prevent restoration until infrastructure assessments are completed.
• The fire's cause remains under investigation, with prolonged drought conditions and high fire risk contributing to its rapid spread.