A 19-year-old man has been arrested by police in New Jersey, accused of starting a massive wildfire that continues to spread in the region.
The Jones Road Wildfire has grown to over 15,000 acres and has deteriorated the air quality for more than 20 million people in the region. Police have arrested Joseph Kling in connection with sparking the blaze that has resulted in power outages and evacuations.
Kling remains in detention, but officials have not revealed what led to his arrest. However, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer did say that “technical advancements” assisted police in narrowing down the suspect, per BBC.
Kling is accused of setting wooden pallets on fire in a densely forested area before leaving the site while the blaze continued. Billhimer said he was “very confident” that Kling intentionally set out to start what has turned into a massive wildfire that has wreaked havoc on the air quality in New York City.
If convicted, Kling could face up to a decade in prison. Billhimer hopes the man’s arrest will send a “message” to others in the community.
“Starting a fire out in the woods when the conditions are dry in the forest could lead to widespread damage, loss of life, loss of property and potentially criminal charges… It’s a very dangerous thing, and we were taught as kids not to play with fire, but starting a fire in a forest is such a dangerous thing,” said Billhimer.
Dry conditions could set the stage for the state’s largest wildfire in two decades, say officials. So far, only 50% of the blaze is contained, with forecasted precipitation on Saturday hoped to provide some relief.
Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported that the inferno that engulfed parts of Los Angeles and Southern California was the worst in the region’s history. According to one estimate, the wildfires were projected to result in upwards of $275 billion in damage.