OCEAN COUNTY – A major forest fire on the border of Lakewood and Brick counties led to the evacuation of homes and at least one store, according to authorities and reports.
The Garden State Parkway is closed in both directions from mile marker 90 to 83, and authorities have also closed Route 70 in both directions from Chambers Bridge Road to Parkway, with Route 70 entry and exit ramps closed.
Homes in Brick Lake Park, near Cedar Bridge Avenue and Airport Road in Brick, were being evacuated because of the fire, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said. Evacuations were also taking place at Target and other stores near Route 70, he said.
People should avoid the area, as traffic is significantly blocked because of all road blocks, Kelly said.
The highway closed in both directions in the 83-90 area on Toms River, Lakewood and Brick, according to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. The big fire was burning initially near Airport Road and Cedar Bridge Avenue.
Michelle Leonard of Beachwood said her daughter was driving south on Parkway just before authorities closed her down.
“I just had the scariest FaceTime with my daughter EVER!” she said. “Red black smoke, she couldn’t see to drive. She had no choice but to keep passing it.
“I just drove with her on FaceTime in absolute fear !! Seeing the fire next to her car. She felt the heat!”
Leonard said his daughter’s car was covered in ash and black soot when she got home.
State and local teams are involved in fighting a significant fire in the Lakewood area, near the Garden State Parkway. Relative humidity is around 20% in the area with gusts of winds of almost 40 mph, making conditions difficult for firefighters. #NJwx https://t.co/8L0o9F2QJJ
– NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) March 14, 2021
Garden State Avenue is closed when the fire hits the highway. If you go below exit 100, this is what you face. Some buildings on fire. Good fire video posted by @LakewoodScoop AND @LakewoodNewsNet pic.twitter.com/k42vBfROzc
– Brian Thompson (@ brian4NY) March 14, 2021
Helicopters over the fire, seen from Town and Country Shopping Center on Route70. @AsburyParkPress pic.twitter.com/wGFNV7JW5y
– Amanda Oglesby (@OglesbyAPP) March 14, 2021
HAPPENING NOW: A heavy bush fire in Lakewood Industrial Park caused commercial buildings to catch fire. Lakewood, the state Forest Fire Service and mutual aid are on the scene. Nearby businesses were evacuated. pic.twitter.com/iGYa0vVPGL
– Lakewood News Network (@LakewoodNewsNet) March 14, 2021
Shot from @GSParkway traffic camera shows dense smoke on all lanes of the highway and shows why it is turned off now in the fire spread area @ FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/7CPP0e2Q39
– Steve Keeley (@ KeeleyFox29) March 14, 2021
BREAKING: firefighters still fight the fire by tearing up the structures. MORE ON STATUS -> https://t.co/lJ3ClHEEnm pic.twitter.com/62jFLZPVld
– The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) March 14, 2021
The fire occurred because most of New Jersey, including Ocean County, is under a red flag alert, which means that critical weather conditions are expected due to a combination of high winds, low relative humidity and dry shrubs and trees. .
Any fire that develops can quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain, according to the National Weather Service.
The red flag alert is in effect until late Monday afternoon, with gusts of 35 to 40 mph expected for Sunday afternoon and evening. Northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts of around 20 mph are expected from late tonight through Monday.
This is a developing story. The patch will have more details as the information arrives
With reporting by Megan VerHelst and Karen Wall