A 14-year-old teen was charged with arson in connection with one of the wildfires that burned acres of dry forest in the last month.
This is the second arrest in connection with the recent wildfires.
Evesham police announced the arrest of a 14-year-old Marlton teen in connection with a wildfire on Sycamore Avenue in Evesham that destroyed 52 acres on October 30 and 31.
The teen was arrested on November 7 and charged with aggravated arson and causing or threatening widespread injury or damage.
The teen is being held at the Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center awaiting his first appearance.
The teen’s involvement in the Nov. 7 Bethany Run wildfire, which destroyed 375 acres on the Evesham/Voorhees border, is still being investigated.
Police asked anyone with information about the fires to contact the Evesham Police Department at 856-983-1116.
Second wildfire arrest
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office charged Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick, with arson and violating firearms regulations in connection with the recent “Shotgun” fire that burned through 350 acres in Jackson.
A joint investigation determined that the fire started behind a berm at the rifle club. Magnesium shards from a Dragons Breath 12-gauge shotgun round set it off, according to prosecutors.
When a shotgun is fired, Dragons Breath rounds ignite magnesium to create flames. They’re illegal in New Jersey.
Containing a massive fire
According to the NJ Forest Fire Service, the Jennings Creek Wildfire in West Milford, near the New York State border, has consumed 2,283 acres in New Jersey as of Wednesday night and is 50% contained.
The fire is being fought by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management.
The number of threatened structures is reduced to two, with the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District in West Milford no longer in jeopardy.
“The New Jersey state forest fire team has made remarkable progress, and we are incredibly grateful to them, as well as all the volunteers and emergency management personnel, for their hard work,” West Milford Mayor Michele Dale wrote on Facebook.
According to Dan Zarrow, Chief Meteorologist for New Jersey 101.5, the fire danger is low on Thursday due to light winds and higher humidity.
“Just remember, with a reduction in dew points (humidity) and an increase in wind speed comes another increase in fire danger,” according to Zarrow.
The Jennings Creek Wildfire is New Jersey’s second-largest wildfire this year. In four days in July, the Tea Time Hill wildfire swept through 4,300 acres of Burlington County’s Wharton State Forest.
