Fighting Fire in Southern New Jersey

Southern New Jersey is grappling with a significant wildfire. This fire has scorched over 8, 500 acres, leading to mass evacuations and power outages. The blaze started in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area of Ocean County. It has caused a lot of trouble for the people living there. The fire started on Tuesday morning. It has been 10% contained, but the cause is still unknown. The acting governor of New Jersey, Tahesha Way, declared a state of emergency for Ocean County. This was done to ensure that resources are available to fight the fire and help those affected. No one has been hurt, but several businesses in an industrial park in Lacey Township have been destroyed. The fire also forced the closure of a section of the Garden State Parkway, a major road in the state. This closure caused traffic jams and delays for many people. Evacuation orders were issued for parts of Lacey and Ocean townships on Tuesday. These orders were lifted on Wednesday morning as conditions improved. The portion of the Garden State Parkway that was closed also reopened early Wednesday morning. The fire has also caused power outages. Some power lines were turned off near the fire on Tuesday evening. This affected about 25, 000 customers. As of Wednesday morning, just over 25, 000 homes and businesses were still without power. The smoke from the fire has also caused a public health advisory in the county due to poor air quality. The fire is burning in a region that is currently under a drought warning. This means that the area has received well-below-average precipitation throughout the winter. This dry weather has made it easier for the fire to spread. While wildfires are not as common in this region as in other parts of the country, they do occur. The Jennings Creek Fire, for example, burned several thousand acres in New Jersey and New York in November. Weather conditions are expected to improve over the next few days. Winds are expected to be light, which should help firefighters make progress on containment. Showers are also expected late Friday night and will continue through much of Saturday. These showers could help to put out the fire. The fire has caused a lot of damage, but it could have been much worse. The quick response of firefighters and the declaration of a state of emergency have helped to minimize the impact of the fire. However, the fire serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for wildfires, especially in areas that are prone to drought.