Thousands evacuated as wildfire sweeps through New Jersey

Thousands of people have been evacuated as a fast-moving wildfire sweeps through New Jersey.

Around 3,000 residents were advised to leave their homes after more than 1,300 structures were identified as being at risk, the New Jersey Fire Service said

The blaze in Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County had only been about 10 percent contained by Tuesday night, the service said.

Power to about 25,000 customers was cut at the request of fire officials “for the safety of crews” working to tackle the dangerous conditions.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. There have been no reports of injuries.

The fire service is expected to give an update at a news conference on Wednesday, although the evacuation order has now been lifted.

A stretch of the Garden State Parkway, one of the state’s busiest routes, which was closed due to the blaze, has also been reopened.

The fire in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area has burned through more than 13.2 square miles (8,450 acres) of land, fire officials said.

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Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs – while her husband had stayed behind with their 22 chickens, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

“I wanted to take them in the car with me – can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?” she told the newspaper.

She said the conditions around her home had become something “like a war zone” and described the smoke, sirens and the sound of helicopters.