A New Jersey teenager has been arrested in connection with a massive wildfire that has burned more than 15,000 acres in Ocean County, prosecutors announced Friday.
The 17-year-old male juvenile, who hasn’t been named because of his age, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with aggravated arson and related crimes.
He’s the second person arrested in connection with the Jones Road wildfire, which officials say was sparked by an improperly extinguished bonfire.
Last week, 19-year-old Joseph Kling was arrested for allegedly causing the fire by “setting wooden pallets on fire — and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished.”
The historic blaze, believed to be the Garden State’s second-worst fire in two decades, started on the morning of April 22 in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township, some 90 miles south of Midtown Manhattan.
Over the past 10 days, the still-going wildfire has forced thousands of evacuations, led the state to declare a state of emergency and even triggered an air quality health advisory for the New York City area.
On Friday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the second arrest in the case. The young suspect was charged with aggravated arson, arson and hindering apprehension.
Investigators say the unnamed teen helped Kling set the pallets on fire, left the area before fully extinguishing the flames and lied to law enforcement about how the fire started.
He’s currently being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.
Additionally, Billhimer announced that Kling was facing an additional charge of hindering apprehension.
“Further investigation has also revealed that Kling likewise provided false information to law enforcement as to how the fire started,” prosecutors said.
On Friday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the Jone Road Wildfire was 80% contained and had scorched roughly 15,300 acres.
