One year ago today, Ocean County witnessed a historic wildfire – the largest in New Jersey in approximately 20 years.
See below some of the TLS coverage of this historic event – which burned over 10,000 acres.
UPDATE: At a press conference going on now, officials said this Jones Road wildfire could be the largest fire in New Jersey in nearly 20 years. pic.twitter.com/2AZRZJWni3
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 23, 2025
BREAKING UPDATE: Authorities have begun evacuating several structures in the vicinity of the Jones Road Wildfire in Barnegat, New Jersey as the fire continues to burn out of control.
Several Ocean County municipalities, including Lakewood are sending emergency personnel to… pic.twitter.com/9IE1m5lcon
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 22, 2025
BREAKING VIDEO: The Garden State Parkway in Waretown has been shut due to the wildfire. pic.twitter.com/BNjQiN0xek
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 22, 2025
BREAKING VIDEO: The Garden State Parkway is shut in both directions between exit 80 and exit 63 due to the wildfire. Use alternate route.
Notice the plane flying through the fire. pic.twitter.com/qwkL4etNcM
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 22, 2025
BREAKING VIDEOS: The NJFFS is utilizing multiple planes and choppers – along with dozens of ground trucks – to battle the wildfire in Ocean County, now burning over 1,000 acres. pic.twitter.com/2gSOGOvyJT
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 22, 2025
A drive down the Garden State Parkway at 2:30 AM, as the Jones Road wildfire rages on in Ocean County, NJ.
The Garden State Parkway and Route 9 are now open in both directions.
The fire continues to burn thousands of acres, and threaten over 1,300 structures. pic.twitter.com/K6Xqw9nVGf
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 23, 2025
HAPPENING NOW: Drone video of Chaveirim CJ emergency services heading now from Lakewood with equipment to assist emergency personnel at the wildfire in Ocean County. pic.twitter.com/UjbSnVYCas
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) April 23, 2025
I would say:
Don’t allow it to grow back. About 15,000 acres burned & good riddance of those pine trees, they are toxic and must be disposed of properly, their pine needles contain acids which kills grass and vegetation besides being extremely flammable.
With those 20,000 acres we can build over 10,000 large homes each on half acre lots, plus industrial parks, shopping centers, Yeshiva’s, Shul’s & parks.
Our housing shortage is constantly worsening, we desperately need it.