WARETOWN, N.J. — A 19-year-old Ocean Township man has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with the massive Jones Road wildfire that has burned 15,000 acres across Waretown and Lacey Townships, officials announced Wednesday.
Joseph Kling was taken into custody on April 23 and is accused of setting a bonfire using wooden pallets in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area on April 22, then leaving the area before fully extinguishing the flames. The wildfire has since destroyed a commercial building and continues to threaten structures across Ocean County.
Key Points:
- Joseph Kling, 19, charged with aggravated arson and arson in Jones Road wildfire
- Fire began April 22 and has burned 15,000 acres in Waretown and Lacey Townships
- Origin traced to an improperly extinguished bonfire involving wooden pallets
Fire sparked near Jones and Bryant Roads
The blaze was first reported around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, when the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower spotted smoke near Jones Road and Bryant Road in Ocean Township. Emergency crews responded and located the fire within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains area.
An extensive investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and the Ocean County and State Fire Marshal’s Offices, determined the blaze was incendiary in nature. Investigators used GPS mapping to identify the point of origin.
Bonfire identified as ignition source
Authorities say Kling set fire to wooden pallets and failed to ensure the fire was extinguished before leaving the site. The resulting wildfire spread rapidly through dry forest conditions, prompting evacuations and a multi-day firefighting effort involving hundreds of emergency personnel and state resources.
Kling was arrested at the Ocean Township Police Department and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
Investigation praised for rapid identification and arrest
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski praised the swift and coordinated investigative efforts that led to Kling’s arrest. Agencies credited include the Ship Bottom Police Department, Lacey Township Police, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Authorities reminded the public that all charges are accusations and Kling is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.