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Authorities allege an improperly extinguished bonfire sparked one of New Jersey’s largest wildfires in two decades, leading to evacuations, destruction, and ongoing containment efforts.
4-24-2025 3:43pm
Waretown Teen Charged in 15,000-Acre Wildfire Linked to Improperly Extinguished Bonfire
NEW JERSEY - A 19-year-old Waretown resident has been charged with aggravated arson and arson following a massive wildfire that scorched approximately 15,000 acres across Ocean and Lacey Townships, according to a joint announcement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Chief of Police Michal Rogalski.
Joseph Kling, 19, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was taken into custody on April 23, 2025, in connection with the wildfire that began the previous morning on April 22. The fire, first detected at approximately 9:45 a.m. on April 22 by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, originated in the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, near Jones Road and Bryant Road. The blaze rapidly expanded due to dry conditions and wind, eventually reaching the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township.
As of Thursday, April 24, at 1 p.m., the wildfire had consumed 15,100 acres, destroyed a commercial structure, and was only 50% contained. The fire forced the temporary evacuation of approximately 5,000 residents from Lacey and Ocean Townships, caused thousands of power outages, and led to temporary closures along the Garden State Parkway and Route 532. Some unimproved roads within the fire perimeter remain closed.
According to investigators, the fire was determined to be incendiary in nature, caused by an improperly extinguished bonfire. An extensive investigation, involving the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and multiple other local and state agencies, traced the fire’s point of origin using GPS technology.
Evidence collected during the investigation indicates that Kling allegedly ignited a bonfire using wooden pallets and then left the scene without fully extinguishing the flames. Authorities say this negligence led directly to the wildfire’s outbreak and rapid spread.
Kling was arrested at the Ocean Township Police Headquarters and subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently held pending a detention hearing.
The incident, which Commissioner LaTourette said could become New Jersey’s largest wildfire in two decades, highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety amid increasingly dry conditions across the state.
The case is the result of coordinated efforts among several agencies, including the Ocean Township and Lacey Township Police Departments, Ship Bottom Police Department, New Jersey State and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Offices, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Officials stress that while charges have been filed, Joseph Kling is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Authorities continue to monitor the area as firefighting efforts persist, and community members are advised to remain alert for updates from emergency management officials.
