The teen accused of starting the second largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years denies responsibility for the blaze, saying others with him who left the area after he did should have extinguished the fire. Joseph Kling, 19, was charged in April with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension in connection with the Jones Road wildfire.
The blaze began April 22 in Waretown near the Jersey Shore and quickly spread throughout the southern Ocean County area. The fire burned for more than three days, destroying more than 15,000 acres of the Pine Barrens, vehicles, and one business, and causing the evacuation of thousands of residents. New Jersey Forest Fire Service officials finally declared the blaze fully contained Monday, May 12, nearly a month later.
Prosecutors say the fire was determined to be an improperly extinguished bonfire, accusing Kling of lighting wooden pallets with gasoline on fire and leaving the area without it being fully extinguished.
In a May 19 court appearance, Kling stated 19 others were present during bonfire, and 16 remained after he left to take a friend for medical treatment after a dirt bike accident. He also said before leaving, he attempted to extinguish the fire by kicking dirt on it. On May 5, Kling was released from the Ocean County Jail and placed under home detention with an electronic monitoring anklet. He is also facing unrelated assault charges from earlier this year.
Second Teen Charged
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, a second 17-year-old boy has also been charged in connection with the Jones Road wildfire. He is identified in court documents as the individual involved in the dirt bike accident.
Prosecutors say both men lied to police, falsely claiming Mexicans started the blaze, though cell phone messages between the two refute that claim. Prosecutors also said that both men’s girlfriends told police that only the four of them were present when Kling lit the fire. According to a probable cause affidavit, the 17-year-old’s girlfriend told a classmate in a Snapchat conversation, “We started the fire.”
The prosecutor’s office said the state is still gathering information as to the full extent of the damage in the area, and that additional victims may still come forward. Kling has not been offered a plea due to the active investigation.
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