Authorities in New Jersey have charged a 19-year-old man, Joseph Kling, with aggravated arson after a wildfire consumed over 15,000 acres of forest land in Ocean County. Officials allege Kling started the fire early Tuesday by lighting a bonfire off Jones Road in Waretown and failing to extinguish it properly.
According to prosecutors, Kling is accused of intentionally setting the fire with the aim of damaging or destroying forested land. A criminal complaint states the blaze stemmed from an "improperly extinguished bonfire" and that Kling endangered nearby structures by acting recklessly.
The fire was first detected around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area, close to Kling’s listed home address. Strong winds, dry brush, and low humidity helped it spread rapidly through the Pine Barrens, eventually threatening about 1,300 structures and crossing the Garden State Parkway.
So far, one commercial building has been destroyed and several cabins have suffered damage, though no residential homes were lost and no injuries have been reported. Over 5,000 people were either evacuated or left the area voluntarily.
Investigators confirmed Kling's involvement through witness reports and his own recorded statements during a police interview. He was taken into custody at the Ocean Township Police Headquarters and booked at the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a court hearing.
New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette commended first responders for preventing what could have been a far worse catastrophe, stating that their efforts "truly averted a major disaster."
As of Thursday morning, fire officials reported the blaze was only 50% contained. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service warned that ongoing dry weather and shifting winds could further fuel the fire’s spread.
Smoke from the fire has already begun reaching New York City and Long Island, prompting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an air quality advisory. Officials say particulate pollution levels could exceed healthy thresholds, posing risks especially to those with respiratory conditions.
Forecasts suggest the wind could push the smoke away from the region overnight, though it may return by Friday if conditions shift again.
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