The culprit behind a devastating 15,000-acre wildfire in New Jersey has been found: a reckless teenager who lit up a bonfire in a protected area.
The alarming incident has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and destroyed countless acres of protected forest.
19-year-old Joseph Kling of Ocean Township has been charged with aggravated arson after starting the massive blaze in the Pine Barrens.
The blaze continues to rage across the region, impacting air quality in neighboring states.
Authorities arrested Kling after determining that he had started a bonfire using wooden pallets in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area.
The fire quickly spread out of control in the drought-prone region, creating what could become New Jersey’s largest wildfire in two decades.
The wildfire was first spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower in Barnegat Township near Jones and Bryant roads.
It quickly expanded across the Pine Barrens, a state and federally protected reserve prone to forest fires due to its quick-draining sandy soil, low humidity, and constant winds.
The destructive blaze forced the evacuation of 5,000 residents from Ocean and Lacey Townships.
Devastating Wildfire in New Jersey 🔥🚨 A 19-year-old has been charged with arson in connection to the massive Jones Road Wildfire.
The wildfire has scorched 13,250 acres and remains just 50% contained. https://t.co/csAeeb98Aq pic.twitter.com/A2lw33ZNyx
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) April 24, 2025
Although evacuation orders have since been lifted, the fire has already destroyed at least one commercial building, with 12 other structures still threatened.
Officials report the fire is only 50% contained and may not be fully extinguished until at least tomorrow.
Jersey Central Power and Light Company was forced to cut power to approximately 25,000 customers as a precaution during the emergency response.
“Safety is our top priority and all restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” the utility company stated.
The widespread outage added to the hardship faced by local residents, who were already dealing with evacuation orders and the threat of losing their homes and businesses.
The environmental impact extends well beyond New Jersey’s borders. The massive smoke plume prompted officials to issue air quality advisories for New York City, Long Island, and the counties of Westchester and Rockland.
The Pine Barrens is a unique ecosystem that provides natural habitat for numerous rare plant and animal species. It has suffered extensive damage that may take years to recover.
The Pine Barrens had been under severe drought conditions until recent early spring rains, making it particularly vulnerable to fire.
Kling is currently in custody at the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.
If convicted, he could face significant prison time and potentially be held financially responsible for the millions of dollars in damages and emergency response costs resulting from the wildfire.
