UPDATE: NJ wildfire burns 20 square miles, completely destroys business

🔥 11,500 acres burned — growing to be largest fire in 20 years

🔥 Power should be restored by late afternoon

🔥 Mandatory evacuations were lifted, highways reopened

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews were beginning to wind down Wednesday evening after nearly 20 square miles of the Pine Barrens were burned in what could end up being the largest wildfire in 20 years. 

Some crews had been battling the flames for as many as 24 hours in efforts that limited damage to just vehicles, several outdoor structures and a single door and awning business that was destroyed, fire officials said.

About 25,000 homes and businesses lost power Tuesday before it was restored by late Wednesday afternoon.

State environmental officials issued an air quality alert for Wednesday until midnight in southeastern Burlington and the coastal portions of Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Wildfire spread quickly but disaster averted

The fire, which was first spotted Tuesday morning, grew from 150 acres in the early afternoon to 8,500 by the end of the night and 11,500 acres the next morning. From the middle of the forest, the fire spread to the east, crossing the Parkway and then reaching Route 9 along the densely developed coast.

The fire was 40% contained at 12,500 acres as of 4 p.m. Wednesday — and by the time it's over by this weekend, state Environmental Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette says this could be the largest fire in 20 years with as many as 24 square miles burned.

Still, none of the 1,300 homes initially threatened or any lives have been lost in the second major forest fire in a week. The fires, however, did destroy a door and awning business in Lacey. Numerous standalone outside structures and vehicles were also damaged.

Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has declared a state of emergency in Ocean County so resources can easily be moved into the affected area. Gov. Phil Murphy is traveling on state business in Poland.

Restrictions lifted

Evacuations are completely lifted for the 5,000 residents evacuated the day before in Lacey and Ocean townships. On Tuesday, the Pheasant Run at Barnegat senior community had been evacuated, with residents bused to Manchester High School.

The Garden State Parkway and Route 9, which had remained closed since late Tuesday afternoon, were reopened just before the start of the morning commute.

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When will power be stored for JCP&L customers?

About 25,000 JCP&L customers in Barnegat, Lacey and Ocean townships lost power after a substation was de-energized Tuesday night at the request of the Forest Fire Service.

Lacey police said that the process has started to return power to the high-voltage lines.

JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig said the first priority in reenergizing the lines is safety. The utility estimates power will be restored for most customers in Lacey by early Wednesday afternoon. The rest of the power will be restored by late afternoon as the utility completes damage assessments.

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Like a warzone

Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

“I wanted to take them in the car with me; can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?" she told the newspaper.

Around her Waretown house it was “like a war zone,” she said, describing smoke, sirens and the buzz of helicopters.

The site of the fire is near an alpaca farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property wasn’t threatened and all of the animals were safe.

— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cause of the fire

The fire remains under investigation.

The Forest Fire Service said the fire was first noticed from a tower about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.

By the time crews arrived, the fire was 10 to 20 acres. Fire officials dispatched a helicopter and air tanker to help put out the blaze, which was fueled by low humidity conditions.

So far this year, 662 wildfires have burned 16,572 acres, or 25.9 square miles. Last year at this time, the state had seen less than half that number of fires that burned 315 acres.

Fire avoids zoo

The fire stayed to the south of Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey and the animals did not have to be evacuated, executive director Cory Scott told Eric Scott.

"We are continuing to keep an eye on things and we are ready to, you know, put plans into place if anything changes. But we're very thankful that thus far we have been safe," Cory Scott said.

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