Wildfire burning in Jackson triples in size, avoid area: NJ Forest Fire Service

UPDATED STORY: ‘Homes, lives were at risk’: Firefighters battle Jackson wildfire, some houses threatened

JACKSON TOWNSHIP - As many as 30 homes and other structures are threatened by a wildfire that has more than tripled in size since it started Tuesday afternoon, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The blaze has been named the “Glory Fire,” for its proximity to Glory's Market on Cedar Swamp Road. As of 9:45 p.m., the wildfire had spread across 50 acres, officials with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said at a news conference at the Jackson Mills firehouse this evening.

Firefighters expected it to spread to just under 100 acres by the morning. Of the 30 homes and structures threatened by the blaze, none were evacuated, the state fire service said.

Firefighters will work through the night, bulldozing lines through the forest vegetation and setting prescribed burns to limit fuel on the forest floor, said Greg McLaughlin, chief of the state fire service.

The fire was reported at 2:26 p.m. Tuesday under "Red Flag" fire conditions, fire officials said.

"A Red Flag Warning means that the forest and the fuels and the weather is all combined to be conducive to rapid spread of wildfires," said Trevor Raynor, assistant division fire warden of the state fire service. "It's burning under these more severe conditions, combined with low snowfall this past year and low rainfall. So the fire is burning a little more aggressively than it would this time of year."

McLaughlin said the area where the fire is burning has gone about 23 days without significant rainfall.

The fire — which is 0% contained — is burning in the area of East Commodore Boulevard and Cedar Swamp Road, the Forest Fire Service announced on social media. Throughout the evening, the public was urged to avoid the area.

Exits 21 and 22 are closed in both directions on Interstate Highway 195, according to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office.

Jackson Mayor Michael Reina said that firefighters from across the region came to the township to help control the blaze.

"I am super impressed with the response and professionalism showed here today," he said. "It's amazing to watch them work."

Police Capt. John Giovanetti asked residents to stay in their homes, avoid the area and to respect road closures."We understand it's a inconvenience, both for our local and for our commuter traffic," he said. "We hope to have the roadways open as soon as the fire officials (and) fire command tells us that we're able to open."

Fire officials said the long wildfire season is weighing on responders.

"It's been a long season," said McLaughlin. "We've had nine major wildfires this season: major wildfires are fires that we consider to be 100 acres or larger. In a typical year and a busy year, we would normally see four or five major wildfires."

The season has been about 30% more active for wildfire than usual, he said. In the past 12 months, the forest fire service has responded to about 1,400 wildfires, where 1,000 is more typical, the fire chief said.

"We're definitely showing fatigue," said McLaughlin. "People are tired, people are weary."

The fire service is rotating firefighters between busy and less busy areas of the state in order to give their personnel breaks and rest, he said.

Forest Fire Service crews had employed a backfiring operation to protect surrounding homes and burn fuel ahead of the main body of fire. Additionally, crews had constructed a containment line around the structures threatened.

Road closures included:

• Exit 21 on Interstate 195 is closed;

• East Commodore Boulevard is closed between Cedar Swamp Road and Jackson Mills Road;

• Cedar Swamp Road is closed between East Commodore Boulevard and Jackson Mills Road; and

• Jackson Mills Road is closed between East Commodore Boulevard and Cedar Swamp Road.

Ocean County Election Board Chairman George R. Gilmore said Tuesday night that a polling place in Jackson was briefly behind one of the road blocks. Election staff immediately contacted Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy to alert him of the issue and the sheriff ordered that the road block be pushed back to allow voters access to the location, Gilmore said.

Structure protection was being provided by local fire companies. There were no mandatory evacuations, according to the Forest Fire Service.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office warned Tuesday night that smoke from the fire had started to drift eastward over Toms River and Berkeley.

This is a developing story. Check back with APP.com for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wildfire burning in Jackson Twp., avoid area: NJ Forest Fire Service