A 19 -year -old has been arrested on suspicion of starting a massive forest fire of New Jersey who has consumed 13,000 acres and continued to burn on Thursday, authorities said.
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, New Jersey officials, including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, announced the arrest of Joseph Kling of Waretown, New Jersey, due to fire charges caused and fire caused in relation to the forest fire that began on Tuesday morning.
The fire was first seen around 9:45 am on Tuesday in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area, near Waretown, New Jersey, authorities said.
The smoke fills the sky of a forest fire in Lacey Townships, NJ on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
NAM Y. HUH/New Jersey Environmental Protection Department through AP
The authorities said the researchers tracked the origin of the fire to Watertown.
“Additional investigation has revealed that Kling was the individual responsible for burning wooden pallets, and then leaving the area without the fire being completely extinguished,” the authorities said in the statement.
Kling was arrested at the Ocean Township police headquarters in Watertown, authorities said.
He was reserved in the Ocean County prison, where he is currently lodging a detention hearing.
The Jones Road’s forest fire continued to burn on Thursday. The fire has burned at least 13,250 acres and is contained in 50%, according to the Fire Service.
The winds are expected to blow smoke in the New York City area.
Fire is expected to grow as dry conditions, winds and low humidity helps fire activity, according to the New Jersey forest fire service.
The sun rises through the mist behind the bass Manhattan created by smoke of forest fires in New Jersey, on April 24, 2025 in New York City.
Gary Hershorn/ABC News
With the current fire and the winds changing north, part of the smoke of forest fires will arrive in New York City and Long Island. As air quality alerts are in force until midnight on Thursday night from high pollution levels, smoke will bring.
New York City was last affected by the smoke of forest fires in 2023 fires in Canada, but this is not expected to be almost so intense, although it can still be dangerous for highly sensitive groups.
The winds will move away during the night of New York City and Long Island, but could change on Friday, bringing smoke from forest fires to the region.
