Wildfire in New Jersey's Pine Barrens forces 3,000 evacuations and shuts down major highway
Firefighters respond to emergency as New Jersey wildfire spreads (Photo: Getty Images)
A fast-spreading wildfire in the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey has burned 8,500 acres, forcing 3,000 residents to evacuate and shutting down a major stretch of the Garden State Parkway, reports The New York Times.
The blaze, which erupted Tuesday morning in Ocean County, quickly swept through dense forest, putting at risk over 1,300 structures and closing 17 miles of the Parkway between exits 63 and 80.
Embers from the fire jumped the highway, igniting smaller fires near the decommissioned Oyster Creek nuclear plant. Holtec International spokesman Patrick O'Brien reassured, "The fires closest to the facility had been completely and safely extinguished."
New Jersey environmental officials added, "Dried cask storage is designed to handle much higher temperatures than a wildfire," ensuring public safety.
Firefighters battle massive 12,000-acre wildfire in Wharton State Forest, southern New Jersey (Photo: Facebook)
Over 130 firefighters and emergency teams, including helicopters and air tankers, are battling the blaze, which remains only 10 percent contained as of early Wednesday.
Around 23,000 residents also lost power due to the emergency.
Drought and dry weather fuel extreme fire conditions in the Pine Barrens
The Pine Barrens, stretching over 1.1 million acres, is the largest forested region on the East Coast and often sees wildfires.
Last year alone, New Jersey faced over ten times the number of forest fires compared to the previous year.
"We have never experienced conditions like this," admitted fire chief Bill Donnelly. Current severe drought conditions and high fire risk are making efforts even more difficult.
"It’s incredibly dry and has been for a while," said environmental commissioner Shawn LaTourette. With no estimate on containment, officials are urging residents to stay alert as the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This New Jersey disaster comes as the United States continues to battle destructive wildfires nationwide. Earlier this year, catastrophic fires in California claimed at least 10 lives, destroyed thousands of homes, and prompted emergency declarations.
