Are all members from NJ safe from the wild fires?

[Bob Wegman]

Hoping all are not in danger.

[Kev m]

I THINK Cam is closest - he's under 5 miles from it. But told me the other day it was moving away from him and they were OK. Then said late yesterday he had ash all over his rear (yard).

So far ~14,000 acres burned, 50% containment, 1 commercial building destroyed, various boats and cars destroyed, but all in all, could be worse.

[Kev m]

From NJ State Forest Fire Service - 16 minutes ago:

JOINT STATEMENT: WARETOWN MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ARSON AND ARSON IN CONNECTION WITH JONES ROAD WILDFIRE

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette 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 located 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).

[Cam3512]

All good Bob.  Nobody hurt, and minimal property damage.  Thanks for checking in.

Cam