Second arrest made in one of New Jersey’s largest wildfires
The Jones Road Wildfire ignited on April 22 and burned through 15,300 acres, destroying multiple outbuildings and a commercial structure, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Firefighters battle a house fire Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Lacey Township, N.J. (Photo credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
A 17-year-old boy has been taken into custody and charged in connection with the wildfire that ignited in Ocean Township (Waretown), New Jersey, on April 22, and rapidly spread through southern Ocean County.
The Jones Road Fire--one of the biggest the state has seen in decades--burned through 15,300 acres, destroying multiple outbuildings and a commercial structure and forced thousands to evacuate.
Authorities say the teen now faces charges of aggravated arson, arson and hindering apprehension. Nineteen-year-old Joseph Kling of Waretown—who had already been charged with aggravated arson and Aarson in the same case—was also charged with hindering apprehension as part of the ongoing investigation.
Kling ignited a bonfire using wooden pallets on April 22—then left the area without fully extinguishing the flames, according to officials. Investigators used GPS mapping to trace the wildfire’s origin. Further investigation revealed the juvenile helped set the pallets on fire and also left the area without the fire being fully extinguished. Authorities say the juvenile also gave misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started.
The Jones Road Wildfire is more than 50% contained, and forecasters say rain coming this weekend could help firefighters out even more.
The Jones Road Wildfire is a harbinger of what's ahead as wildfire season in the United States could 'rapidly escalate' amid building heat and drought.
The annual AccuWeather U.S. wildfire forecast reveals fires could burn more than 7 million acres in 2025 as the nation faces a volatile year for wildfires, including areas devastated by Hurricane Helene last September.
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