Court Orders Release of Teen Involved in New Jersey Wildfire Case

New Jersey Wildfire: Further Arrests Likely in Intentional Blaze

Court Orders Release of Teen Involved in New Jersey Wildfire Case

A judge decided Monday to release the 19-year-old Waretown resident who is suspected of starting the 15,300-acre Jones Road Wildfire.

According to NJ.com, Joseph Kling, 19, will continue to be under electronic surveillance while in home detention after it was determined that he posed no flight risk..

Kling must also remain inside his house unless permitted to go and refrain from entering the forest. He needs to be evaluated for mental health issues as well.

Kling was also reprimanded by the judge at Monday's hearing for attempting to attribute the fire to "Mexicans," according to NJ.com.

Authorities claim that Kling ignited the fire by dousing wooden pallets with gasoline that was burning in a trench in the woods off Jones Road in the Forked River Mountains reserve area. Kling was arrested on April 23 and charged with aggravated arson and arson in the fire.

Prosecutors said that Kling was arrested on April 23 and charged with aggravated arson and arson in the fire, which investigators claim began when he splashed burning gasoline on wooden pallets in a trench in the woods off Jones Road in the Forked River Mountains reserve area.

No homes were lost in the fire; one business, Liberty Door and Awning, had its buildings destroyed.