A teenager has been charged with allegedly igniting a massive wildfire in New Jersey that has consumed over 13,000 acres and continues to spread, officials report.
On Thursday morning, authorities, including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, announced the arrest of 19-year-old Joseph Kling from Watertown, New Jersey. He faces charges of aggravated arson and arson in connection with the fire, which started on Tuesday morning.
The wildfire was first spotted around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area near Watertown. Investigators traced the origin of the blaze to Kling, who reportedly set wooden pallets on fire and left the site without ensuring the fire was fully extinguished.
Kling was taken into custody at the Ocean Township Police Headquarters and is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.
As of Thursday, the Jones Road Wildfire has burned approximately 13,250 acres and is 50% contained, according to the New Jersey Fire Service. Winds are expected to push smoke toward the New York City area, and officials anticipate that the fire could grow due to dry conditions, strong winds, and low humidity, which may intensify the blaze’s activity, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
