A suspect has been arrested and charged with sparking a massive wildfire in New Jersey that continued to burn Thursday across parts of the Pine Barrens in Ocean County, officials announced.
Joseph Kling, 19, of Ocean Township, is facing counts including aggravated arson and arson in connection with a blaze sparked in Waretown on Tuesday, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski.
In the days since, the fire has ripped across some 15,000 acres, burning down businesses and forcing road closures, including the Garden State Parkway and Route 9, both of which have reopened. What’s more, an estimated 25,000 homes and businesses in the county remain without power and thousands of residents have been evacuated.
As of Thursday, more than 1,000 structures remained threatened, with the blaze about 50% contained.
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