At least 13,000 acres are burning in New Jersey, since winds are expected to continue on Thursday and smoke will arrive in the New York City area.
It is predicted that the Jones Road fire in Ocean County, New Jersey, will grow as dry conditions, winds, and low humidity could help the continuous activity of the forest fire, according to the New Jersey Forest Firefighters Service.
A forest fire burns in the Pinelands forest northwest of the WellS Mills Park in Ocean Township, New Jersey, on April 22, 2025.
Doug Hood/USA Today Network through Reuters
Until now, the fire has burned more than 13,000 acres and is now contained in 50%.
With the current fire and the winds that are moving north, part of the smoke of forest fires will arrive in New York and Long Island city, since air quality alerts are in force until midnight on Thursday night from the high levels of pollution that the smoke will bring.
Firefighters rush during an outbreak of forest fires, in Forked River, in the Ocean County region in New Jersey, on April 23, 2025.
Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters
New York City was last affected by the smoke of forest fires in 2023 fires in Canada, but this is not expected to be almost so intense, although it can still be dangerous for highly sensitive groups.
The winds will move away during the night of New York City and Long Island, but could change on Friday, bringing smoke from forest fires to the region.
