Teen charged with starting NJ wildfire blames ‘other people’ at scene of blaze that burned more than 15K acres

A New Jersey man charged pinch starting nan wildfire that tore done nan eastbound portion of nan authorities past month claimed that he shouldn’t beryllium blamed because much than a twelve others coming astatine nan clip besides grounded to extinguish nan flames.

Joseph Kling, 19, was charged pinch aggravated arson and arson connected April 23 for nan out-of-control wildfire that tore done confederate Ocean County, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said. The occurrence destroyed astir 15,300 acres and was only declared 100% contained connected May 12.

On April 21, Kling allegedly group a heap of woody pallets connected occurrence and near without putting it out.

Kling told NBC Philadelphia that he had to time off early to return his friend to nan infirmary aft a gnarly ungraded motorcycle crash, but noted that location were still astir 16 different group location erstwhile he departed.

“There were different group there, and I tried,” Kling insisted to nan outlet.

“I kicked ungraded connected it and everything. I had nan occurrence almost out, and different group were there.”

So far, only Kling and an unidentified 17-year-old person been charged successful relationship pinch nan Jones Road wildfire. The younger teen faces nan aforesaid charges arsenic Kling, including a hindering apprehension complaint that was tacked connected aft nan 2 allegedly lied to constabulary and tried to pin nan blasted connected Mexicans, prosecutors said.

The occurrence reportedly started successful an isolated area wrong nan Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. It forced thousands to flee and was 1 of nan largest wildfires recorded successful nan Garden State successful caller years.