Teen Charged with Starting Massive Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County
Posted on: April 25, 2025
A 19-year-old Ocean Township man was arrested and charged with aggravated arson and arson for starting New Jersey’s largest wildfire in 20 years. The fire, known as the Jones Road Wildfire, started inside the Ocean County Natural Land Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area on the east side of Jones Road on Tuesday, April 22.
The blaze has burned for three days, destroying a business and approximately 15,000 acres in Ocean County, and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents. As of Thursday, April 24, firefighters had the blaze at least 50 percent contained.
Investigators said the teen ignited wooden pallets for a bonfire, but left the area without fully extinguishing the fire. He was taken into custody at Ocean Township Police headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain pending a detention hearing.
In the early morning hours on Wednesday, New Jersey Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency in Ocean County, ordering the evacuation of area residents. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the fire had accelerated overnight, scorching an estimated 8,500 acres and threatening more than 1,000 structures.
Jersey Central Power & Light cut power to over 25,000 area homes and businesses to protect firefighters battling the flames. Area fire crews established containment lines and backfiring operations to burn fuel ahead of the main fire in efforts to gain control and extinguish the blaze. The massive, rapidly growing fire forced the evacuation of 3,000 residents and shut down several major roads, including portions of the Garden State Parkway and Route 9.
Ellis Law is a full-service personal injury and criminal defense law firm. For more information on our legal services or to schedule a free consultation, call 732-298-6664 or complete our online form. Located in Freehold, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients in Asbury Park, East Brunswick, Toms River, Middletown, Jersey City, Long Branch, Neptune, Hudson County, Union County, Essex County, Monmouth County, Marlboro, and Ocean County, as well as Brooklyn and New York City.
