A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson for allegedly sparking the massive wildfire in the New Jersey Pine Barrens that has torched 15,000 acres, prosecutors said.
Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township, allegedly started a bonfire in the vast Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area with wooden pallets that exploded out of control when he did not properly put it out, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Kling was taken into custody at Ocean Township Police headquarters and taken to the Ocean County Jail where he is awaiting his detention hearing.
A column of smoke was first spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower in Barnegat Township around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, officials said.
The fire quickly spread out of control, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 residents of Ocean and Lacey Townships
As of Thursday morning, the fire had scorched roughly 15,000 acres and destroyed at least one commercial building.
The wildfire is currently 50% contained with 12 structures threatened, according to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
No injuries have been reported, and all evacuation orders have been lifted.
The massive blaze, one of the largest wildfires in the Garden State in decades, prompted an air quality advisory in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland Counties through Thursday.
Officials estimate the fire might not be completely extinguished until at least Saturday.
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