Blame is being blamed for a blaze that closed the Garden State Parkway at Brick and Lakewood for more than 10 hours from Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday.
State police said the fire was started around 5 p.m. by multiple people, possibly minors, inside the culvert that runs under the Garden State Parkway from the north entrance ramp of Exit 91 to the south exit ramp of Exit 91. 91 at Brick.
Multiple people were seen running into the Evergreen Woods Park apartment complex after the fire started, according to state police.
Video of the fire shows flames shooting from the manhole.
The culvert is 5 feet in diameter and runs under the north and south lanes of the Parkway.
Garden State Parkway near exit 91 in Brick during fire 01/20/22
Parkway closure while traveling
The Parkway was closed between exits 91 and 98 shortly after 5:00 p.m., causing miles of delays in both directions as thick black smoke filled the air.
There was also heavy traffic on Routes 9, 18, 34, 35 and 70 from drivers trying to avoid the closure. Burnt Tavern Road over Parkway was also closed.
Nearby residents were not evacuated due to the fire, especially after it was determined that it was not a wildfire as originally thought.
Residents of the Evergreen Woods townhome complex near Parkway told Patch of Toms River that the fire left a smoky odor in their units.
State police asked witnesses to the fire or any other information to contact the Holmdel station at 732-441-4526.
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