Massive Wildfire Closes Garden State Parkway In Southern Ocean County

Heavy smoke and fog from the fire closed the Garden State Parkway for miles. (Photo courtesy NJ Turnpike Authority)

Update as of 10 a.m. – OC Sheriff Alert: The Garden State Parkway is open in both directions mile marker 38 thru 63. Use caution in this area.

OCEAN COUNTY – A wildfire that began in a South Jersey forest is playing havoc with the morning commute in Ocean County.

According to the New Jersey State Police, the Garden State Parkway is closed until further notice between the Atlantic City Expressway at Exit 38 all the way up to Exit 63 in Southern Ocean County.

The reason for the closure is due to dense fog and heavy smoke from the now 5,000 acre blaze.

Officials are calling the fire the Allen Road Wildfire which first broke out a little after 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

As of right now, the blaze is 50 percent contained. No structures are threatened at this point and firefighters from all around the area are there working the scene.

State fire officials said they are performing a backfiring operation to help contain it.

There is no word yet on when the Garden State Parkway will reopen.

As a result, there are massive delays in Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Manahawkin, Barnegat and as far north as Lacey as everyone scrambles to find an alternate route.

For updates, visit the New Jersey Forest Fire Facebook Page.