Junk yard fire closes Garden State Parkway exit in Ocean County

A junk yard fire in Berkeley Township has shut down a Garden State Parkway off-ramp in Ocean County.

Exit 77 for Keswick Road was closed for the fire at Universal Recycling on Double Trouble Road, located across from the Parkway ramp. The fire sent thick black smoke into the air as firefighters from several towns tried to put out the flames. Tankers were brought into help provide water as there are no hydrants in the immediate area.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office said a plane will be flying low over Beachwood and South Toms River in order to help put out the flames.

The site is also the home to the Cosmos junkyard.

New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams said drivers can take Exit 80 for Route 9 and follow Dover Road to Pinewalk-Keswick Road to get around the closure.

Adding to the Parkway delays created by those who could not take Exit 77 was an accident at Exit 81 for Lakehurst Road in Toms River.

Vin Ebenau contributed to this report