A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson for allegedly starting the massive wildfire in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, which has destroyed 15,000 acres, according to prosecutors.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Joseph Kling of Ocean Township allegedly lit a bonfire with wooden pallets in the vast Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, which exploded out of control when he failed to properly extinguish it.
Kling was arrested at Ocean Township police headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
He appeared for an initial hearing Thursday afternoon via video conference, looking disheveled and wearing a green prison jumpsuit.
The judge said the state filed a motion to keep him locked up ahead of his trial, and that the detention hearing has been scheduled for April 29, when a superior court judge will determine if he should be released or remain behind bars.
The Ocean County prosecutor and Kling’s public defender, Giana Testa, had no questions for the judge, but Kling inquired as to whether his next hearing would be held on a Tuesday and at what time.
The judge informed him that such proceedings typically begin at 9 a.m., and Kling replied, “Thank you, have a good day,” before walking off camera.
Around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, officials reported seeing a column of smoke coming from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower in Barnegat Township.
The fire quickly spread out of control, forcing 5,000 residents of Ocean and Lacey townships to evacuate.
As of Thursday morning, the fire had consumed approximately 15,000 acres (23 square miles, or slightly more than Manhattan Island) and destroyed at least one commercial building.
According to the most recent update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the wildfire is 50% contained, with 12 structures under threat.
There were no injuries reported, and all evacuation orders were lifted.
The massive blaze, one of the largest wildfires in the Garden State in decades, prompted an air quality advisory in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland counties until Thursday.
Officials estimate that the fire will not be completely extinguished until at least Saturday.
