At least 13,000 hectares burned in New Jersey because the wind is expected to continue Thursday and smoke will hit the New York city area.
Jones Road Fire at Ocean County, New Jersey, is expected to grow as a low dry condition, wind, and humidity can help the activities of sustainable forest fires, according to New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
A fire burned in Pinelands Forest in northwest of Wells Mills Park in Ocean Township, New Jersey, April 22, 2025.
Doug Hood/USA Today network via Reuters
The fire has so far burned more than 13,000 hectares and now 50% contained.
With the ongoing fire and the wind shifted to the north, some fire smoke will get to New York City and Long Island because the air quality warnings are valid until midnight Thursday night from the elevated pollution levels that will be brought to the smoke.
Firefighters were rushed during the fire plague, in the Forked River, in the Ocean County New Jersey area, April 23, 2025 ..
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
The last New York city was affected by fire smoke in 2023 from fires in Canada but it was not expected to be almost the same intense although it could still be dangerous for very sensitive groups.
The wind will then shift overnight from New York City and Long Island but can shift again on Friday bringing fire smoke to the region.