Sit Rep 4 | Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 1845 PDT

The Jones Road Fire continues to burn this evening, about six miles southwest of Lacey (both Ocean and Lacey Townships) in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Photo Credit | New Jersey Forest Fire Service

The fire has now scorched approximately 15,300 acres, with firefighters successfully reaching a 60% containment status.

Its fire behavior has been observed as active with group torching, uphill runs, and single tree torching.

Four structures are still threatened, but the prior mandatory evacuation orders that impacted about 5,000 local residents on April 22nd have since been lifted.

The incident is still staffed with about 54 total personnel staffing four helicopters and 13 engines.

The cost for fire suppression and containment efforts has reached $100,000.

According to Fire Officials, one commercial structure, along with multiple outbuildings and vehicles, has been lost. An assessment of additional structure and high-value assets is underway.

It has been determined by the Fire Service, the cause is arson, and a Waretown man has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with the incident.

Joint Statement by Fire Officials

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette and Ocean Township Chief of Police Michal Rogalski announced that on April 23, 2025, Joseph Kling, 19, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with a wildfire that started in Waretown on April 22, 2025, and continued to spread throughout the southern Ocean County area.

On April 22, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower detected a column of smoke coming from the area of Jones Road and Bryant Road in Ocean Township. Upon arrival, emergency personnel observed a fire within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, which is on the east side of Jones Road.

As of April 24, 2025, the fire has burned approximately 15,000 acres in Waretown and Lacey Townships and has destroyed a commercial building.

A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office plotted the origin of the fire via Global Positioning System (GPS). The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary by an improperly extinguished bonfire.

Further investigation has revealed that Kling was the individual responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire – and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished. Kling was taken into custody at Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Headquarters; he was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor Billhimer and Commissioner LaTourette acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Department Detective Bureau, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ship Bottom Police Department, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations, and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).

(c) 2025 NW FIRE BLOG