A second 14-year-old teen has been arrested for allegedly starting last month’s Eversham, N.J. wildfire.
The boy was charged aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, Evesham Township Police said Wednesday.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested earlier this month for intentionally setting the fire on Oct. 30 which grew to consume 52 acres. He was charged with second-degree aggravated arson as well as causing or risking widespread injury or damage.
A second fire, which engulfed a nearby 375-acre area, that was put out Nov. 7. is also under investigation. No arrests have been made in that case and it’s unclear if the two teens are connected to the second blaze, dubbed the Bethany Run Wildfire.
Neither teen was identified since they are minors. The boys are both from Marlton, N.J. and are in custody at a juvenile detention center in Middlesex.
Police are trying to determine if anyone else is involved.
The fire came days before New Jersey declared a drought warning as a spate of wildfires burned across the state. New York City declared a drought warning earlier this week after an extended dry spell sapped reservoirs and led to wildfires in a number of Big Apple parks.
The region is expected to be doused with a “significant” amount of rain starting Wednesday night that should extinguish some ongoing fires in the area and help refill reservoirs.
