A destructive wildfire has erupted in eastern New Jersey, burning more than 8,500 acres as of Tuesday night, spurring thousands of evacuations and painting the sky bright red in parts of Ocean County.

The wildfire is burning in or around Ocean, Lacey and Barnegat townships, three communities known for their beaches and seaside boardwalks, with a combined population of more than 64,000. The Jones Road wildfire was only 10 percent contained as of about 8 p.m. Tuesday, with more than 1,300 structures threatened and 3,000 residents already evacuated, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Authorities have issued mandatory evacuations for several areas, including in the area of Route 9 in Lacey Township and in the areas surrounding several roads of Ocean Township. Those evacuating the fire are being directed to two shelters in the towns of Manahawkin and Manchester.

The Lacey Township police said “evacuations will remain in place until forward progress and control is obtained” in fighting the fires.

“New Jersey state forest fire personnel and local fire companies are on location actively suppressing the wildfire,” Lacey police said, adding that they expected increased smoke and decreased visibility in the area.

The police also warned that residents should be prepared for the possibility of an extended power outage. More than 26,000 people were without power in Ocean County as of 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the tracking platform Poweroutage.us.

The region has been experiencing abnormally dry conditions that have developed since last fall, and no rain is forecast until Saturday.

Winds in the fire area Tuesday gusted as high as 40 mph from the northwest and were expected to blow most of the smoke offshore. Early Wednesday, the winds were forecast to shift, potentially causing some of the smoke to blow toward other areas on land if the fire persists.

“Don’t put wet clothing or bandannas over your mouth or nose,” the New Jersey Red Cross advised on social media. “Moist air causes more damage to airways than dry air at the same temperature.”

Last month, more than 2,300 acres were scorched in a wildfire in the state that prompted the evacuations of two campgrounds from Wharton State Forest.

In a post on social media, John Napolitani, the mayor of a separate Ocean Township in nearby Monmouth County, said he was “praying for our neighbors” in what he called a “very serious wild fire.”