Published Monday, April 28, 2025 @ 2045 hours PDT

OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY — Firefighters from local, county, State, and Federal fire agencies are still fighting the fire, and the 15,300-acre fire has now reached a 75% containment status, but not after it has destroyed one commercial structure, multiple outbuildings, and many vehicles.

Photo Credit | NJ Forest Fire Service

Fire Officials say the fire was originally spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower at 0945 hours on Tuesday, April 22nd, and quickly began burning everything in its path and forcing about 5,000 residents to evacuate.

The cause was determined to be from an improperly extinguished bonfire, as investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office. Together, the agency conducted and completed an extensive fire investigation, which netted the agency a Waretown male suspect who has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with this fire incident.

Forest Fire Service crews will remain on scene for the next several days to continue to improve containment lines and address areas of concern until significant precipitation occurs to ensure public safety.

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