New Jersey wildfire: Residents evacuated as huge blaze tears through community 'like a war zone'

Families have been evacuated from their homes following a huge - which has left a community "like a war zone".

The is tearing through Barnegat Township, New Jersey, and has closed a large section of the Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey's busiest motorways. More than 1,300 structures - including homes - are at threat of being demolished entirely as the fire continues to spread.

Families have been rescued from their houses following a mandatory evacuation order. Shelters are open at churches and schools across Barnegat Township, which is approximately 60 miles east of Philadelphia. The blaze started in the remote Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area and has burned more than 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers) of land, fire officials have told reporters.

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The Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request of the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire’s command post Tuesday evening, including thousands in Barnegat Township. The company said on X that it doesn’t expect to restore the power before Wednesday. It added: "This is for the safety of crews battling the fire."

Speaking after being evacuated from her property, Debi Schaffer described smoke, sirens and the buzz of helicopters, scenes she compared to a "war zone". She was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two , while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens.

"I wanted to take them in the car with me; can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?" Debi told . She said the source of the fire is thought to be near an alpaca farm in New Jersey. The farm said in a post that the property was not threatened and all of the animals were safe.

The blaze is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week. Both are under investigation but the latter is currently only only about 5% contained.

The shocking photographs mirror similar scenes pictured across Los Angeles earlier this year. Initially, some Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, a hillside neighbourhood dotted with celebrity residences, including that of Ben Affleck.

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Gavin Newsom, governor of California, said he "saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers" and he added he found "not a few — many structures already destroyed". He declared a state of emergency in early January.

But by then, properties had already been reduced to rubble in the area from Malibu to Calabasas in California. Cars were destroyed and, otherwise, stranded - with some people abandoning their vehicles and fleeing the scenes of carnage on foot. Residents had been pictured toting suitcases as they dashed to find safety.

Kelsey Trainor, who lives in the area, had said the only road in and out of her neighbourhood was completely blocked. Ash fell all around them while fires burned on both sides of the street.