VIDEO: Route 18 Brush Fire

A brush fire on the northbound side of Route 18, between the Tinton Falls border and Route 34, closed the right lane late yesterday afternoon as firefighters battled the blaze.

The fire was not visible from the road, but heavy smoke came from the trees between mile markers 15 and 18, north of the Garden State Parkway.

It is unknown at the time what caused the fire, but yesterday the National Weather Service issued a forest fire warning due to a lack of rain and unusually warm conditions, and as pine needles on forest floors continue to gather.