A wildfire in New Jersey has exploded to approximately 8,500 acres since it was first reported on Tuesday afternoon. The Jones Road Wildfire is now burning across 8,500 acres and is currently under 10% containment on Wednesday morning, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The fire is located south of Toms River along the Garden State Parkway, bringing traffic there to a halt as the fire managed to jump one of New Jersey’s busiest roads and is now burning in Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County.

An massive wildfire that has already spread to more than 8,500 acres (approximately 3,440 hectares) has forced evacuations and the closure of a major highway in New Jersey, authorities reported. As the fire continued to spread Tuesday night, around 3,000 people were evacuated from the area affected by the "Jones Road Fire," in Ocean County, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. For the moment, authorities reported no casualties and explained that the fire was 10% contained. The cause is still under investigation.

A raging wildfire broke out across 8,500 acres in New Jersey on Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and shuttering a large stretch of the state’s busiest highway. Firefighters were battling the Jones Road Wildfire through the night after it broke out at 7 p.m. in Lacey and Ocean Townships in Ocean County — utilizing fire engines, bulldozers, air support and ground crews, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Despite the massive response, the blaze roared on and was just 10% contained as of 10:46 p.m. Roughly 3,000 residents were under evacuation orders and 1,320 homes and buildings were threatened by encroaching sparks, the fire service reported.