About 30 homes and two commercial buildings have been damaged in a New Jersey forest fire that ignited on Sunday and spread rapidly amid windy and dry conditions, according to reports.
The fire started in Lakewood around 1pm and later moved to Brick, where 29 houses were damaged, three of which remained uninhabitable, the Asbury Park Press reported, citing the Brick Mayor John Ducey.
The fire started relatively small and burned an area less than a quarter of a football field when it was first reported, NJ.com reported.
But by 6:30 p.m., the flames had spread to 162 acres, officials said at points of sale.
The Garden State Parkway between exits 83 to 90 was temporarily closed on Sunday due to the fire.
“We have two helicopters and a single-engine tanker truck working the fire,” Caryn Shinske, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, told Asbury Park Press.
“The fire crossed Garden State Parkway and is threatening residential and commercial-type areas,” near Route 70, Shinske said.
At least one firefighter has been injured fighting the blaze, reports say.
Weather conditions in New Jersey have been ripe for the spread of rubbish, with strong winds and low humidity.