Mandatory evacuation, mass power outages, and deepening uncertainty vexxed Ocean County residents on Tuesday night as the out-of-control “Jones Road Wildfire” raged in the vicinity of Barnegat, Ocean, and Lacey townships.

Located in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, over 8,500 acres was ablaze as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Power outages had impacted 25,000 residences and businesses, and 3,000 individuals had been ordered to evacuate.

Only about 10% of the fire was considered contained as of 10 o’clock.

How did it happen?

Did Trenton make the right moves in planning, prevention, and resource allocation?

At least one legislator questioned whether the state could have been better prepared for the horrific events engulfing a huge swath of the coastal county.

“Last December, I asked for an Environment Committee hearing on wildfires,” tweeted Asm. Mike Inganamort (R-24) of Morris County. “Tomorrow in Trenton, as 1,200 acres burn and Barnegat evacuates, there’s a joint Senate & Assembly Environment hearing on: food waste. When will we get our priorities straight?”