A 19-year-old named Joseph Kling has been arrested and charged with aggravated arson in connection with a massive wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey. The fire, which began on Tuesday (April 22), has burned approximately 15,000 acres and is only 50% contained as of Thursday (April 24).

Authorities, including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, announced that Kling allegedly started the fire by igniting wooden pallets in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness area and leaving them without ensuring the fire was fully extinguished. The fire quickly spread, leading to the destruction of at least one commercial building and causing power outages for about 25,000 customers of the Jersey Central Power and Light Company.

The wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, has also forced evacuations and closed roads. Although no injuries have been reported, the fire's smoke has affected air quality, with alerts issued for areas as far as New York City and Long Island. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service warns that dry conditions, winds, and low humidity could further fuel the blaze.

Kling was taken into custody at the Ocean Township Police headquarters and is currently held at the Ocean County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing. The wildfire is one of the largest in New Jersey in the past two decades, and officials continue to work on containing it.

Steve Andrews