Smoke plumes from the Jones Wildfire in Barnegat can be seen outside of the German Butcher in Forked River on April 22, 2025. (Patch Contributor)

BARNEGAT, NJ — The forest fire burning Tuesday in Barnegat has grown to 1,200 acres and is completely uncontained, authorities said at 5 p.m.

The blaze is spreading north as of the evening, according to authorities.

Mandatory evacuations are underway for those on Wells Mills Road from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway in Waretown, officials said. A temporary shelter is available at Waretown Methodist Church.

In Lacey, Pheasant Run and Barnegat Pines South Section are under mandatory evacuation. Residents can go to Charles Smith Community Center.

Voluntary evacuations were issued out of precaution for Windward, Mirage, Pheasant Run, Heritage Point North, Brookville and all houses on West Bay Avenue in those areas in Barnegat.

The Ocean County Sherriff’s Office said that the Garden State Parkway is closed in both directions from Exit 80 South to Exit 63 North. Drivers are asked to take alternate routes and expect delays.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service officials have dubbed the blaze the Jones Wildfire and are on the scene working on containment.

“Crews are in the process of constructing new containment lines and reinforcing existing ones,” Forest Fire Service officials said. “A backfiring operation is underway to burn fuel in advance of the main body of fire.”

Power outages are being reported from Lacey to Barnegat Tuesday evening as JCP&L has cut power along the Parkway.

The fire is within the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area which spans Barnegat, Berkeley, Lacey, Manchester, Waretown and Woodland townships.

Sixteen structures along Route 532 are threatened by the fire.

These roads are currently closed as of 6 p.m. Tuesday:

• Garden State Parkway in both directions between Exit 80 South and Exit 63 North
• Route 9 in Lacey in both directions from Lacey Road to Lakeside Drive South
• Route 532 (Wells Mills Road) between Route 72 and the Garden State Parkway
• Bryant Road between Route 532 and Route 539
• Jones Road between Route 532 and Bryant Road

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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