A fast-moving wildfire that spread to 2,500 acres as of early Wednesday morning forced authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation order for about 170 homes and other structures, according to the state Forest Fire Service. The Manchester Office of Emergency Management ordered mandatory evacuations along Beckerville Road, Horicon Avenue and Horicon Drive in the Whiting section of the township because of the fire, the township said in a statement. The Forest Fire Service said that its crews had begun a backfiring operation to aid in the containment. Local volunteer fire departments in Ocean County had been deployed to safeguard the threatened structures. Click the link in bio for the latest updates. 📸: Amanda Oglesby @amandaoglesby_journalist Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY Network