Latest news with #OceanCounty
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive NJ wildfire that forced thousands to flee inferno could be state's largest in decades
New Jersey firefighters are still battling a massive blaze in the southern part of the state, which officials say could wind up being the largest wildfire in the Garden State in the last 20 years. The Jones Road Wildfire — which broke out Tuesday morning in Lacey and Ocean townships in Ocean County — now stands at 13,500 acres (21 square miles) burned and has been 50% contained, New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Wednesday evening. Evacuation orders have been entirely lifted for the 5,000 Lacey and Ocean Township residents, with zero injuries being reported as a result of the inferno, the agency reported. Multiple buildings and vehicles have been destroyed, but the massive conflagration is known to have only destroyed one commercial building thus far, NJFFS said. Both the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 have been reopened in both directions, according to officials. Road closures remain in effect for parts of Route 532, Bryant Road and Jones Road, NJFFS added. Air quality warning issued for NYC and Long Island as wildfire in NJ spreads to more than 13K acres Massive NJ wildfire that forced thousands to flee inferno could be state's largest in decades Evacuation orders lifted after fast-moving NJ wildfire shuts down major highway, prompts thousands to leave NJ wildfire prompts evacuation orders for thousands as blaze explodes in size, closes part of Garden State Parkway 19-year-old Joseph Kling appears in court, charged with arson for allegedly sparking massive NJ wildfire Power has been restored by Jersey Central Power & Light after the energy company cut electricity to 25,000 Garden Staters to protect firefighters in the field, the company said in a statement posted to Facebook. Officials estimate the fire might not be completely extinguished until at least Saturday, based on its current containment level and upcoming weather patterns in the area, which had been under a severe drought until recently. 'We expect that number to grow, that ultimately we will see a greater number of acres affected,' New Jersey Forest Fire Service Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said, noting that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. No residential structures have been burned, though over the course of fighting the fire some 1,300 were threatened. Helicopters were dropping water on hotspots throughout Wednesday, the Forest Service said, adding that 'burnout operations are improving and strengthening containment lines.' Bill Donnelly, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, pointed out the significant uptick in wildfire activity this year compared to 2024. 'This time last year, we were at 310 wildfires for a total of 315 acres burned,' Donnelly said. 'This year for the same period we're at 662 wildfires with 16,572 acres [26 square miles] burned.' Donnelly also noted that a fire in Vineland in Cumberland County that ignited over the weekend currently stands at 1,327 acres (2 square miles) burned and has been 80% contained. The Jones Road Wildfire forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and wound up closing down a 17-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway, Route 9, Route 532, Lakeside Drive, Jones Road, Bryant Road and Route 72, according to the state forest fire agency.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
19-year-old Joseph Kling appears in court, charged with arson for allegedly sparking massive NJ wildfire
A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson for allegedly sparking the massive wildfire in the New Jersey Pine Barrens that has torched 15,000 acres, prosecutors said. Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township, allegedly started a bonfire in the vast Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area with wooden pallets that exploded out of control when he did not properly put it out, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Kling was taken into custody at Ocean Township police headquarters and brought to the Ocean County Jail. He appeared for an initial hearing Thursday afternoon via video conference, looking disheveled and wearing a green prison jumpsuit. The judge said the state filed a motion to keep him locked up ahead of his trial, and that the detention hearing has been scheduled for April 29, when a superior court judge will determine if he should be released or remain behind bars. Neither the Ocean County prosecutor nor Kling's public defender, Giana Testa, had any questions for the judge, but Kling asked if the date of his next hearing fell on a Tuesday and what time it would be held. The judge told him such proceedings usually kick off at 9 a.m., and Kling said 'thank you, have a good day,' before walking off camera. Air quality warning issued for NYC and Long Island as wildfire in NJ spreads to more than 13K acres Massive NJ wildfire that forced thousands to flee inferno could be state's largest in decades Evacuation orders lifted after fast-moving NJ wildfire shuts down major highway, prompts thousands to leave NJ wildfire prompts evacuation orders for thousands as blaze explodes in size, closes part of Garden State Parkway 19-year-old Joseph Kling appears in court, charged with arson for allegedly sparking massive NJ wildfire A column of smoke was first spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower in Barnegat Township around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, officials said. The fire quickly spread out of control, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 residents of Ocean and Lacey townships. As of Thursday morning, the fire had scorched roughly 15,000 acres (23 square miles, or slightly larger than Manhattan Island) and destroyed at least one commercial building. The wildfire is currently 50% contained with 12 structures threatened, according to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. No injuries have been reported, and all evacuation orders have been lifted. The massive blaze, one of the largest wildfires in the Garden State in decades, prompted an air quality advisory in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland counties through Thursday. Officials estimate the fire might not be completely extinguished until at least Saturday.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teen charged with starting NJ wildfire blames ‘other people' at scene of blaze that burned more than 15K acres
A New Jersey man charged with starting the wildfire that tore through the eastern part of the state last month claimed that he shouldn't be blamed because more than a dozen others present at the time also failed to extinguish the flames. Joseph Kling, 19, was charged with aggravated arson and arson on April 23 for the out-of-control wildfire that tore through southern Ocean County, the said. The fire destroyed around 15,300 acres and was only declared 100% contained on May 12. On April 21, Kling allegedly set a pile of wooden pallets on fire and left without putting it out. Kling told NBC Philadelphia that he had to leave early to take his friend to the hospital after a gnarly dirt bike crash, but noted that there were still about 16 other people there when he departed. 'There were other people there, and I tried,' Kling insisted to the outlet. 'I kicked dirt on it and everything. I had the flame almost out, and other people were there.' So far, only Kling and an unidentified 17-year-old have been charged in connection with the Jones Road wildfire. The younger teen faces the same charges as Kling, including a hindering apprehension charge that was tacked on after the two allegedly lied to police and tried to pin the blame on Mexicans, prosecutors said. The fire reportedly started in an isolated area within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust's Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. It forced thousands to flee and was one of the largest wildfires recorded in the Garden State in recent years.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- CBS News
Jones Road fire in Ocean County, New Jersey, is 100% contained, officials say
The Jones Road wildfire in Ocean County is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service announced Monday afternoon. As of 2 p.m., the service said the 15,300-acre fire burning in Ocean and Lacey townships was contained. The fire started on April 22 at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. Thousands were evacuated because of the fire late last month, and at least one business lost a facility. At its height, the blaze also caused some road closures and power outages. Two people — 19-year-old Joseph Kling of Waretown, New Jersey, and a 17-year-old who has not been identified — have been charged with starting the blaze. Kling faces arson and aggravated arson charges. Authorities said the 17-year-old helped Kling start a bonfire with wooden pallets, and then both left the area without properly extinguishing the fire. Members of the NJFFS, the Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad in the Ocean County prosecutor's office and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office investigated with GPS and found the wildfire began at the site of the bonfire. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer also alleged the younger teen "gave misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started," according to a news release. Meanwhile, the NJFFS is warning residents about a scam targeting Ocean and Lacey township residents affected by the fire. Officials say scammers are going door to door claiming they can remove the smell of smoke from homes for $30,000, which they say can be reimbursed through FEMA. Officials say FEMA has not issued a disaster declaration for this fire and urge residents to report suspicious activity to police.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- CBS News
Parents charged with murdering 3-month-old daughter in Lakewood, New Jersey
The parents of a 3-month-old girl who died due to blunt force trauma to her head in Lakewood, New Jersey, have been charged with murder, Ocean County's prosecutor said Thursday. Ruben Santiago and Caitlin Gibson were charged on Wednesday, May 7 with the murder of their 3-month-old daughter, prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. Lakewood Township police were called to a home on Pinehurst Drive shortly before 7:30 p.m. Monday for a report of an infant having trouble breathing. Police found the baby unresponsive, and EMTs attempted to revive her, the prosecutor's office said. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died Tuesday. The county medical examiner's office ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, which caused fracturing and subdural hematoma, Billhimer said. The baby's death was ruled a homicide. Santiago and Gibson were arrested Wednesday and are being held at Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
