UPDATE 2: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 2000 hours PDT

Incident Summary

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A wildfire ignited Tuesday, April 11th around 1629 hours PDT (1929 hours EDT) along Route 539 and Horicon Avenue, which is about 40 miles east of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Command

The command is currently under the NJ State Forest Fire Service.

Photo Credit | NJFFS

TFR in Effect

A TFR (temporary flight restriction) over the fire is in effect, which means no personal, UAV or any other drone aircraft can be flown over, around, or near the fly. #NoDronesInFireZones

Current Status

As of 1000 hours EDT on Thursday morning, firefighters with the NJFFS have successfully reached a 100% containment status on the fire which has consumed 3,859 acres of land on private, state, and federal property.

The cause is unknown and under investigation.

Photo Credit: NJFFS

Size Up

It is currently at 500 acres and at a 10% containment status.  It is burning on federal, state, and private property.

Evacuations

On Tuesday night mandatory evacuations were ordered in Lakehurst from Division St. to Route 70, Horicon Ave, and Beckerkerville Road.

Approximately 170 structures were evacuated in Manchester and Lakehurst and 75 structures are threatened by the fire. Structure protection was provided by local volunteer fire companies and some from Ocean County.

A shelter was opened at the Manchester High School for evacuees.

Mutual Aid

Incident Cooperators include the NJ Forest Fire Service, Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Ocean County Sheriff 911, Lakehurst Naval Air Station, and New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and with the Joint Boise McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst FD.

Photo Credit | NJ Forest Fire Service

Injuries

There were no injuries to civilians or to 1st responders were reported by Officials.

Emergency Alerts

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Photo Courtesy | Ocean County Sheriff 911

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