600-Acre Wildfire Erupts Following Plane Crash in Ocean County

Update: 9/3/23 @ 9pm

A 600-acre wildfire in Lacey Township, Ocean County, is now 50% contained, as reported by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The fire may have been triggered by a plane crash in Ocean County.

The fire is in close proximity to the Robert J. Miller Airpark in Lacey Township, southeast of the Ocean County Airport. The plane crash took place on Saturday evening, approximately half a mile from the airport, and the pilot's condition remains uncertain. The Lacey Township Fire Department has confirmed one fatality upon arrival following the tragic airplane crash.

The fire has threatened 25 structures, leading to road closures in the area. Emergency responders closed Dover and Mule Roads in Lacey Township due to the fire. Residents were not required to evacuate but were urged to stay away from the area. Volunteer fire companies assisted in protecting threatened buildings.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the plane crash. It's unclear if the crash and the wildfire are directly related.