Homes evacuated as wildfire breaks out in Ocean County

Fifteen structures are being evacuated in Jackson on Wednesday afternoon after a multi-acre wildfire broke out, officials said.
In all 25, structures in the area of South Stump Tavern Road are threatened by the fire, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said at about 1:30 p.m.
It’s 0% contained, but expected to be contained at 300 acres.
Crew are burning fuel in the fire’s path to slow it down and try to contain it — a process known as backfiring, officials said.
South Stump Tavern Road, which contains mostly spaced out single-family homes, is closed. Fire trucks and bulldozers have been deployed to the area, the state Forest Fire Service said.
Evacuated residents who need a place to stay can go the township’s senior center on Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson police said.
There is a slight chance of rain in the Jackson area on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning though overall dry conditions are expected for day to come, the National Weather Service said.
There has been no significant rain in the state in more than a month.
There have been multiple wildfires in New Jersey in the past couple weeks. All are mostly contained.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].