New Jersey Wildfire Sparks Outrage: Teen Charged with Arson Over Pine Barrens Blaze

NEW JERSEY — A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson after authorities say he started a bonfire that triggered a massive wildfire in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, spreading smoke as far as New York City and forcing thousands to evacuate.

Joseph Kling of Waretown, NJ, was arrested and charged with arson and aggravated arson after investigators determined that a bonfire he lit using wooden pallets was never fully extinguished. That blaze quickly spiraled into one of the state’s largest wildfires in decades, burning more than 23 square miles and continuing to grow.

According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the fire began with an “improperly extinguished bonfire.” Fire towers first spotted the rising smoke on Tuesday morning, and law enforcement used GPS technology to trace the fire’s origin to the burn site.

At a press conference Thursday, Billhimer stated: “We can confidently say that we think the fire was set intentionally.” He declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Kling appeared in court Thursday, where Judge James Gluck denied his release and scheduled his next hearing for Tuesday. He spoke only briefly, confirming his court date before thanking the judge. A public defender representing him had no comment.

The blaze comes at the peak of wildfire season in the Pine Barrens — a vast, forested area covering more than a million acres. Months of drought, dry conditions, and low humidity have created a tinderbox environment, making the region especially vulnerable to fast-moving fires.

Though much of the Pine Barrens is uninhabited, New Jersey remains the most densely populated state in the U.S. Officials warned that nearby communities were at risk. Approximately 5,000 residents were evacuated but were allowed to return home by Wednesday.

“This is still a very active fire,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “While we’ve made progress, we expect the fire to continue growing, mostly in unpopulated areas.”

The fire’s effects have reached well beyond New Jersey. On Thursday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued air quality alerts for New York City, Long Island, and parts of Westchester and Rockland counties, warning residents of elevated pollution levels.

Symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath are expected, and residents were advised to stay indoors to minimize exposure.

New York, like New Jersey, is experiencing high fire risk conditions due to statewide dry weather. Several regions — including the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Long Island — are under a high fire danger rating.

Jim and Lenore Thoms, who own a business near the blaze, called it a terrifying experience. “The firefighters were phenomenal, they saved this whole park,” Jim Thoms said. “If they weren’t there, we might have lost everything.”

So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported, though a commercial building and several vehicles were destroyed in the fire.

Acting Governor Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as fire crews battled to contain the blaze. Officials said Thursday that the wildfire was about 50% contained. Governor Phil Murphy, currently in Poland for a Holocaust memorial visit, is expected to return Friday.

Authorities say this wildfire ranks as the second-largest in New Jersey in recent memory, surpassed only by a 2007 fire that scorched 26 square miles.

The Pine Barrens — wedged between Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore — are particularly prone to fires this time of year. The combination of sandy, fast-draining soil, leafless trees, and steady winds creates ideal conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly.

Footage released by state officials shows dramatic scenes of towering smoke clouds, blazing pine trees, and exhausted crews working to suppress the flames.