NJ Wildfire Burns 13,500 Acres—State of Emergency Declared, Gov. Murphy Criticized For Absence

In photo: A house engulfed in flames amid U.S. wildfires in January. (Credit: AFP)

KEY POINTS

• NJ's environmental protection chief said the wildfire 'came perilously close to communities'
• Multiple outbuildings and vehicles have been destroyed in the raging fire
• Some 12 structures are still threatened by the wildfire, and some roads are still closed

The wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey that started Tuesday has now burned 13,500 acres, and is on track to becoming the Garden State's largest wildfire in nearly two decades.