Editor's Note (June 2, 2023, 7:50 a.m.): The smoke from the Bass River State Forest wildfire contributed to the closure of a stretch of the Garden State Parkway Friday morning. Click here for updated details on the firefighting efforts, traffic troubles.
Firefighters have made significant progress in containing a massive wildfire that has burned thousands of acres of a New Jersey forest and at one point threatened buildings.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Allen Road Wildfire in Ocean County's Bass River State Forest was 50% contained after burning 5,000 acres.
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Firefighters first responded to the blaze Wednesday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. The fire was initially burning in only several dozen acres, but quickly spread.
At least six homes were threatened by the flames and evacuated and the Timberline Campground was evacuated, the forest fire service said. In total, about 40 people were evacuated.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Allen Road and Oswego Road remained closed as well as Stage Road between North Maple Avenue and Rt. 679 and Route 679 between Rt. 563 and Leaktown Road.
While zero residential structures are currently threatened by the fire, the Timberline Campground and the Batona Trail in Bass River State Forest also remain closed.
The road closures were expected to be in place at least two more days as fire officials expected the battle against the blaze to take some time to fully contain.
The smoke from the Allen Road Fire was blowing over other parts of New Jersey and Delaware, adding to an already rough air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke.
This is the latest wildfire to strike the Garden State amid a stretch of mostly dry weather.
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