BARNEGAT, N.J.– Weather conditions in New Jersey on Friday are leading to an increased risk of rapid fire spread just as firefighters continue battling the 15,000-acre Jones Road wildfire.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, warning that with current warm, dry, and breezy conditions in place, any fires could grow more quickly Friday afternoon.
High temperatures will be in the mid-70s to 80s on Friday, with relative humidity forecast between 25-30% and wind gusts of 20 mph.
"These conditions, along with the continued drying of fine fuels, could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control," said NWS meteorologists in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
It's unwelcome news for firefighters battling the Jones Road fire in Ocean County. The fire has already burned 15,300 acres, making it one of the 10 largest fires ever recorded in the state.
Bill Donnelly, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, spoke to FOX News Correspondent Nate Foy on Friday.
He said they have 40-50 firefighters fighting the fire, along with helicopters, fire engines and bulldozers providing additional support.
A 19-year-old man from Waretown, New Jersey, is accused of arson after officials said he lit wooden pallets on fire Tuesday morning and left the area without ensuring the fire was fully out.
Foy said New Jersey authorities are confident the fire was started intentionally. The suspect, Joseph Kling, will remain in custody until his detention hearing on Tuesday, Foy said.
Within hours, the fire spread to thousands of acres, prompting evacuation warnings for at least 5,000 people in Ocean County.
Thankfully, no one was injured by the fire, and evacuation orders have since been lifted.
Donnelly said the fire's rapid spread can be attributed to New Jersey's pine barrens and the winds.
"Our pine barrens down here are just one continuous, continuous line of forest," he said. "The fuels go from the ground to the top."
Smoke from the wildfire filled New Jersey skies on Wednesday, before spreading north into New York City on Thursday morning, prompting air quality alerts.
Air quality has returned to normal in New Jersey and New York, according to AirNow.gov.
The weather does change for the better over the weekend for firefighters as an area of low pressure moves into the Northeast on Saturday, bringing rain and possibly helping put out some of the flames.
Donnelly said fire crews are hoping Satuday rain will lend them a hand in mopping up hot spots left from the fire.
Meanwhile, firefighters are making good progress on the fire, which was 60% contained as of Friday morning.
The post New Jersey fire weather danger spikes Friday as Jones Road Fire scorches over 15,000 acres appeared first on Fox Weather