Tue Apr 22 20:30:00 UTC 2025: ## 150-Acre Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Barnegat, NJ; Parkway Closure Possible
**BARNEGAT, NJ** – A rapidly spreading wildfire in Barnegat, New Jersey, has forced mandatory evacuations and threatens to close a major highway. Dubbed the Jones Wildfire by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the blaze has consumed 150 acres and remains completely uncontained as of late Tuesday afternoon.
Evacuation orders are in effect for residents on Wells Mills Road, from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway in Waretown. A temporary shelter has been established at the Waretown Methodist Church.
Authorities are warning of potential Garden State Parkway closures in Waretown and urging drivers to seek alternate routes, anticipating significant delays. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office announced the possibility of a Parkway shutdown shortly after 3:30 p.m.
The fire, located within the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, is threatening twelve structures along Route 532. Several roads in the area have been closed since 2 p.m. (Specific road closures were not provided in the original text).
Fire crews are working to construct and reinforce containment lines, and a backfiring operation is underway to remove fuel from the fire’s path. The wildfire spans across multiple townships, including Barnegat, Berkeley, Lacey, Manchester, Waretown, and Woodland.
First Piper 