WARETOWN ― One of the worst wildfires in southern Ocean County history has more than doubled in size, scorching 8,500 acres, forcing the evacuation of some 3,000 people, and threatening 1,320 homes and buildings, officials said.

Thousands of New Jersey residents have been evacuated as the Jones Road Wildfire along the East Coast grows to 12,000 acres, authorities said. It was 35% contained by Wednesday afternoon.

The president said he has “no intention” of ousting Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, but the administration’s willingness to challenge norms regarding the central bank’s political independence is causing concern.

Wall Street's main indexes rallied at the open on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump dialed back on his threats to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and raised hopes for a trade deal with China.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has no plans to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, but said he wants interest rates to be lower. "I have no intention of firing him," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday.