"Part of major highway closed as 3,000 people move to safety and officials say fire could become state’s largest in 20 years"

"A fast-moving wildfire burning in New Jersey forced thousands of people to temporarily evacuate on Tuesday, as officials warned the blaze could become the largest in the state in about 20 years.

Flames from the Jones Road wildfire in Ocean county sparked several small blazes near a decommissioned Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, state officials said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire had burned 12,000 acres and was 35% contained, according to the New Jersey forest fire service.

Initially Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey’s busiest highways, was closed between Barnegat and Lacey townships, and more than 1,300 structures were threatened. Shelters were open at two high schools, according to the Barnegat police department."

The Guardian had the story with agencies April 23, 2025. [2]