The large brush fire fueled by dry conditions and high wind Sunday in Lakewood damaged at least 29 homes in Brick Township.

Around 100 people were evacuated yesterday in the Brick Lake Park development off of Cedar Bridge Avenue as the flames jumped the Garden State Parkway from Lakewood and threatened the homes. 

“I think we were 20% lucky and 80% fortunate that the firefighters did an amazing job,” says fire victim John Stoneham. “They fought it from here back and saved all of our homes. Nobody lost their house.

Across the street, embers caught the outside of Lisa Lerche's home.

“There was like comets, almost like fireballs, coming up over the houses into our yard, onto the house, lighting everything on fire,” says Lerche.

Hundreds of firefighters from all over Monmouth and Ocean counties battled the 170-acre blaze, through strong winds and dangerously dry conditions

“The State Forest Fire Service organized a terrific job, job well done,” says Brick Township Mayor John Ducey. “They had fire crews come in from towns all over the county and knew exactly where to dispatch up in the air, watching which direction the wind was blowing. The fires redirected the crews.”

Many people said they had seconds to grab what they could and get out. Damage reports include burned and melted siding, with some more serious damage to the rear of homes.

Dry windy conditions remain in place today, and red flag warnings are up for New Jersey until tonight.