NJ forest fire that destroyed buildings, damaged houses that are still on fire. Fireman seriously injured.

UPDATE: ‘The firefighters saved my home.’ Neighbors escaped during NJ forest fire

Firefighters are still working Monday morning to contain a major forest fire in Ocean County that destroyed commercial buildings in Lakewood, damaged more than two dozen houses in neighboring Brick and left a fireman seriously injured.

The fire will affect the morning run as the Route 70 ramp to the east to the Garden State Parkway is still closed, according to the state Department of Transportation. The two lanes on the right of Route 70 west on Shorrock Street in Lakewood are also closed and the detours remain in place. The Garden State Parkway was closed in both directions on Sunday when the fire hit the highway, but has since reopened.

At 10:30 pm on Sunday, more than 170 acres were still burning with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, saying it planned to continue fighting the fire overnight. Dozens of brick houses and shops nearby have been evacuated, although residents started to return on Sunday night.

“The New Jersey Forest Fire Service will continue suppression, patrol and clean-up operations throughout the night and support from local fire companies will be reduced throughout Sunday night as containment increases,” said the fire service. forest fires. “The source has been identified and the cause is under investigation, although we can say that it was not a prescribed burn, as reported incorrectly online.”

It was not possible to contact the New Jersey Forest Fire Service on Monday morning for further updates.

Strong winds and low humidity contributed to the spread of the fire.

Twenty of New Jersey’s 21 counties remain under red flag alert until 5 pm Monday, as northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected for gusts up to 30 mph, the National Weather Service said. Average conditions of low humidity of 10 to 20 percent are still favorable to forest fires with the observation of the NWS, “any fire that develops can quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain”.

There is no rain forecast for Monday and there is only a small chance of rain on Tuesday.

Two mixed-use commercial buildings were destroyed by the fire, but no houses were “substantially damaged,” said the forest fire service.

Lakewood Mayor Ray Cole said on Monday that no homes in Lakwood were damaged, but that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is still preparing equipment in the city in the event of outbreaks. All roads in Lakewood are open.

Brick evacuees who were evacuated were allowed to return home from 7 pm.

The fire’s footprint was less than a quarter of a football field when first reported around 1 pm Sunday, near Airport Road and Cedarbridge Avenue in Lakewood, officials said. He jumped down Airport Road and spread to nearby buildings before crossing Parkway.

Several other fires were reported in New Jersey on Sunday.

Jeff Goldman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ.

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