DUI Lawyers in Ocean City, NJ

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents in parts of New Jersey's Ocean Township, Lakewood and Lacey Township in Ocean County due to a fast-spreading wildfire which broke out Tuesday morning.

The fire started around 10 a.m. at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said as of 10:30 p.m., the fire had burned 8,500 acres and was 10% contained. The cause has not yet been determined.

About 1,320 structures were threatened and approximately 3,000 people were evacuated. The Ocean County Sheriff's Office told CBS News Tuesday night that no injuries have been reported, but several businesses have been damaged, including some that were completely burned in Lacey Township.

The Red Cross has shelters open at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School in Manchester.

Roads closures, power outages due to New Jersey wildfire

There were several road closures in effect Tuesday night:

Jersey Central Power & Light reported over 25,000 customers were without power at one point Tuesday evening due to the wildfire.

According to JCP&L, all lines in and out of their Oyster Creek substation were de-energized at the request of the Forest Fire Service to protect crews battling the fire.

"Safety is our top priority and all restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time," a spokesperson said.

Officials reminded people not to fly drones in fire zones.

Jesse Zanger

Jesse Zanger is the managing editor of CBSNewYork.com. Jesse has previously worked for the Fox News Channel and Spectrum News NY1. He covers regional news around the Tri-State Area, with a particular focus on breaking news and extreme weather.

A major wildfire is burning at this hour in a portion of Barnegat Township (Ocean County) and it is having ripple effects throughout New Jersey.

As of 4:00 p.m. the fire is still growing, and now evacuations have been ordered in a portion of the area.

More bad news? Garden State Parkway has been closed in both directions between exits 63 and 80, as of 5:00 p.m. Route 9 in Barnegat and Waretown is also closed in both directions.

The fire in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area of Barnegat Township was first reported around 12:22 p.m. on Tuesday. It has continued to grow since that time.

It’s been named the Jones Road Wildfire.

Here's new footage of the fire from NBC Philadelphia:

As of this hour it was reported to be at least 150 acres, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. It was 0% contained, but fire crews are said to be working on containment lines for the fire.

It was previously estimated that 12 structures were threatened by the fire.

Now mandatory evacuations have been ordered in the area.

“Mandatory evacuations are underway on Wells Mills Road from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway in Ocean Twp., Ocean County,” the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in an update around 3:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, residents from throughout Ocean and Burlington County have been reporting that they’ve seen the smoke and ash billowing into the air.

In fact, here are a few of those photos on social media:

Fire officials will hold a press conference around 5 p.m. to provide any additional updates.

A helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water onto the fire has joined the firefight as well, officials say.

94.5 PST and Townsquare Media’s Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow tells us that winds in the area are blowing out of the west, guesting to 20 mph.

“So if you smell smoke in Ocean County, that's what it is,” Dan wrote in an update on social media.

BARNEGAT — A second wildfire in four days is burning in New Jersey, affecting major highways and the power grid.

The "Jones Road Wildfire" in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area spanning parts of the townships of Barnegat, Ocean and Lacey grew from just over a hundred acres early Tuesday afternoon to about 8,500 acres, or 13.3 square miles, by 10 p.m.

At 10 p.m., just 10% of the fire was considered under control.

At 6:30 p.m., officials mandated evacuations in the area of Route 9 in Lacey. Eventually, the fire threatened 1,320 structures, leading to evacuation orders affecting 3,000 people.

Power outages during the wildfire

About 25,000 homes and businesses remained in the dark after JCP&L shut down power to all lines connecting to a substation near the fire. The utility said they did this at the request of fire officials to protect firefighters. Power was expected to remain off overnight.

"Safety is our top priority and all restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time," JCP&L said in a written statement.

Firefighters have tackled the fire from the ground, building new containment lines and reinforcing existing ones. A backfiring operation is underway to burn fuel in advance of the main body of fire, according to the Forest Fire Service.

CAUTION: Explicit language in video below

An evacuation was ordered for Wells Mill Road between Bryant Road and the Garden State Parkway in Ocean Township.

The Garden State Parkway was expected to be closed between Exits 74 and 69 at least until midnight, and perhaps into the Wednesday morning commute.

Route 9, Bryant Road, Jones Road and Route 532 (Wells Mill Road) are also closed.

Route 9 is closed from Route 532 north to Lakeside Drive in Lacey.

By 8 p.m., the evacuation orders affected 1,320 buildings. Authorities opened several evacuation shelters: Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School. Pets are accepted at both, police officials said.

???? Important to know: From Meteorologist Dan Zarrow

There are a few factors that make the Jones Road Wildfire in southern Ocean County extra problematic:

1️⃣ Location. Flames and smoke continue to keep sections of the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 closed this evening.

2️⃣ It's big. Over 5 square miles. And things escalated very quickly earlier today.

3️⃣ Dry brush. Yes, this spring has generally turned wet. And our drought situation is better than it was. But we haven't had appreciable rain in 10+ days now.

5️⃣ Shifting breezes. Winds have been fairly light, but are still enough to fan the flames and transport smoke from west to east. Wind direction is expected to shift overnight into tomorrow, which means the direction of travel of the fire and the smoke plume may change.

If you are anywhere near the fire ground in Ocean County, my heart goes out to you. I can't imagine how terrifying this must be. Keep and eye and an ear on the latest info. And consider having a "go bag" packed with personal belongings and important documents in case evacuation orders are issued for your house.

???? Very important: If a mandatory evacuation is issued for your area, GO.

Be safe, everyone.

Firefighters at the scene

The fire is being hit from the air with a FFS helicopter dropping 300 gallons of water and an air tanker capable for dropping 600 gallons for water.

Elsewhere in the state, "Danny's Wildfire" continues to burn in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland. It has burned 2 square miles since Friday but has stalled at being 75% contained.

"The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has established strong control lines around three sides of the Danny’s Wildfire. A small creek bordering the fourth side of the fire poses a challenge in getting firefighting equipment to that area to limit the fire’s spread or to burn away fuels," a FFS spokesperson told New Jersey 101.5.

Chris Coleman contributed to this report

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The Pirate Ship Returns to Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, NJ

After more than four years away, the iconic pirate ship that once stood proudly at the entrance of Playland’s Castaway Cove is making its grand return to the Ocean City Boardwalk.

On Wednesday morning, crews will begin installing a brand-new, 60-foot-long pirate ship in front of the amusement park, bringing back a beloved boardwalk landmark lost to fire in early 2021.

The Pirate Ship Returns to Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, NJ

In January of that year, a four-alarm fire tore through the entrance building of Castaway Cove, destroying the arcade, offices, and the towering pirate ship that had greeted visitors since 1998.

The ship—complete with masts, sails, and a colorful oversized parrot—had become one of the most recognizable photo ops on the Boardwalk.

Now, just in time for the 2025 season, the pirate is back.

“Someone said they wanted a Pirate Ship? From the warehouse to on location. Tomorrow is the day it will begin its journey up to its home on the rooftop,” said the owners of Playland’s Castaway Cove on Facebook earlier today. “We are nearing completion of a long journey and it feels great!.”

While the design of the new ship pays homage to the original, it comes with several fresh features. The structure is slightly larger and sturdier, built to handle the sea breeze and salt air of the Jersey Shore.

Visitors can expect enhanced lighting, decorative cannons, and of course, the return of the famous pirate.

Also See: Quincy’s Lobster Rolls Adds Steak Bros to Wildwood Boardwalk

The ship itself is made of metal and is painted in a similar color scheme with green being the primary color of the ship.

For those wondering, the ship isn’t a full sized ship. Only half of the physical ship will be built, because you only see one side of the ship while on the boardwalk.

So don’t expect the ship to set sail anytime toon.

The reinstallation comes during a major period of revitalization for the park.

In addition to the ship, the long-awaited arcade—rebuilt from the ground up after the fire—is set to reopen this summer as Playland celebrates over 65 years on the Boardwalk.

With the closure of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in 2024, Playland’s Castaway Cove now stands as Ocean City’s only amusement park on the boardwalk—making the return of the pirate ship not just exciting, but essential to preserving that timeless boardwalk charm.

Whether you’re a lifelong Castaway Cove fan or planning your first Ocean City vacation, the new pirate ship is sure to become your new must-see stop.

So grab your eye patch and your camera—the pirate is back, and he’s here to stay.

How Ocean City is gearing up for shore rental season

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (WPVI) -- It may not feel like it, but the height of the spring/summer 2025 shore season is just around the corner.

Ocean City is gearing up with a variety of ways to keep visitors.

"Take a look, the views are unmatched," says Glen Losch, general manager of Port-O-Call Hotel.

Port-O-Call Hotel is offering month-long rentals -- a superior ocean-front room could run about $23,000 for 30 days. A deluxe bayside room will run just under $17,000 for a summer month. Housekeeping, gym and an oceanfront pool are included, as is a complimentary umbrella and beach chair service.

Clay Rossiter, of Fox Realty, says weekly shore house rentals are slightly down, about 5%, so far this year. There may be several factors at play.

"European vacations look very cheap right now and look very appealing. I think people kind of put that thing off during COVID-19," said Rossiter.

"The stock market is up and down, and that's the first thing that you reconsider doing, or not doing a vacation," he said.

For those looking down the shore, now is the time to book that vacation rental. On average, it costs about $4,000 a week.

"Really, for me, some sunshine will get everyone back to thinking about Ocean City and the shore," said Rossiter.

Jilly's has an empire of boardwalk shops, from candy to arcades, French fries, and t-shirts.

"Cabin fever makes them eventually come out and droves when it does warm up," said Jody Levchuk, co-owner of Jilly's Arcade.

Jilly's employs about 30 to 40 J1 Visa students from overseas. There has been an uptick in applicants.

"When they have a good experience working with other Americans and American businesses, they bring that back to their country," says Levchuk.

Because rental properties can be so expensive, Jilly's and several other businesses also own lodging for their seasonal employees.

There are still vacancies for rental properties, but coveted summer weeks are nearly 80% full in many spots.

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