BREAKING: Fire Crews Battling 12,500-Acre Forest Fire in Ocean County, the Largest wildfire in Nearly 20 Years [VIDEOS & PHOTOS]

Officials say this could be the largest fire in New Jersey in nearly 20 years

UPDATE 8:20 PM: A shift in the winds has now brought the smell of smoke from the massive Jones Road Wildfire across Ocean County, including Lakewood and Jackson.

Residents with respiratory issues are advised to keep their windows shut for the night, and avoid being outside.

BREAKING UPDATE 10:55 AM: Officials are investigating whether an unattended campfire may have ignited the Jones wildfire in Ocean County, which has already burned over 11,500 acres, sources tell TLS. Approximately 30% of the fire is contained, officials say.

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UPDATE 8:08 AM: Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, who is serving as acting governor while Governor Murphy is in Poland, has declared a State of Emergency in Ocean County due to the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, which has already burned over 8,500 acres.

UPDATE 10:40 PM: Fire officials say the wildfire has grown to 8,500 acres in size and is 10% contained. Over 3,000 residents have been evacuated and 1,320 structures are threatened by the flames.

BREAKING UPDATE 9:20 PM: Flames from the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey have now reached buildings on the campus of the shuttered Oyster Creek nuclear power plant.

BREAKING UPDATE 8:35 PM: Thousands of people have now been evacuated due do the Jones Road wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey. Over 1,000 structures are threatened.

BREAKING 7:35 PM: TLS is getting reports of a commercial building explosion in Lacey as a result of the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County. Injuries reported.

Original story below:

The New Jersey state Forest Fire Service is battling a wildfire which erupted in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area this afternoon, consuming approximately 1,200 acres and threatening 16 nearby structures, according to the agency.

The blaze, which began Tuesday afternoon and is currently 0% contained, is situated in a remote section of Barnegat Township, near the Burlington County border.

Firefighters are actively working to contain the fire, utilizing a contact air tanker capable of dropping 600 gallons of water, as well as a Forest Fire Service helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water, along with a helicopter for observation.

Several evacuations have been ordered.

As of now, no injuries have been reported.

The Garden State Parkway is closed in both directions between exit 63 in Stafford Township and exit 80 in South Toms River due to the fire, and residents are advised to avoid the area.

Smoke from the blaze is drifting toward Lacey and Long Beach Island, and may been as far North as Lakewood and Jackson later this afternoon, potentially affecting air quality in those regions

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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