LITTLE EGG HARBOR – A massive brush fire is keeping firefighters busy Sunday night as thousands of acres burn in the Bass River State Forest.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that several roads had to be closed including Route 9 north of Mathistown Road, Stage Road to Route 9, Otis Bog Road and Poor Mans Parkway.
According to New Jersey Incident Alert Network, emergency coordinators are reporting they have 11 strike teams on the ground with 39 fire companies with an average member count of 4 per people per piece of fire apparatus and 2 on the tankers and a total of 63 total apparatus on location including the Chiefs vehicles.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said firefighters will conduct burnout operations setting smaller controlled fires near structures on Stage Road and the Offshore Manor Development along US Route 9.
Approximately 100 structures are at risk and the Pinelands Middle School is a designated shelter. Evacuation is voluntary. Additional firefighters are at the scene to protect property.
Several departments are on the scene including the Waretown Fire Department. On Facebook, the department said their assistance was requested as part of the strike team to protect homes and businesses in the path of a wildfire.
The cause of the blaze is unknown and the fire is not yet contained.
Stay tuned to updates from Jersey Shore Online as we get new details on this breaking story.
