A 14-year-old boy was arrested in New Jersey on suspicion of intentionally starting a forest fire that destroyed 52 acres last week in an act of arson, police said.
The boy, from Marlton, N.J., is accused of starting a fire that ravaged the area near Sycamore Drive and the Berlin township line for several days on Oct. 30, and police now believe he was involved in the riot. We are investigating whether he may have been involved in starting the incident. Evesham Police announced on Wednesday that a further large fire had broken out.
Evesham police, the New Jersey Forest Fire Department and Evesham firefighters battled the inferno for several days and were able to contain the blaze before it damaged any buildings, police said in a press release.
The department began investigating the fire and soon discovered evidence that it was intentionally set.
The teenager, whose name was withheld by police because of his age, was later identified as a suspect.
He was arrested without incident on Nov. 7 and charged with aggravated arson and causing or endangering widespread injury or damage. He was held at the Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center pending his initial hearing.
Police are investigating whether the Oct. 30 fire is connected to a 375-acre fire in the same area near Sycamore Drive that occurred the same day as the arrest. The fire was extinguished after firefighters fought for several days.
Record dryness and strong winds have hit the region, sparking wildfires in multiple parts of New York and New Jersey over the past few weeks.
An 18-year-old New York state park worker died Saturday while battling a wildfire that spanned both states, although the blaze was extinguished.
Fire warnings are in effect for five states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The National Weather Service has issued a “red flag warning” for New York City due to the increased risk of wildfires.
Firefighters in other parts of New York and New Jersey are struggling to extinguish a massive wildfire near the eastern end of Lake Greenwood that has burned more than 7,000 acres in both states. The inferno, known as the Jennings Creek Fire, was only 30% contained as of Wednesday afternoon.
A wildfire in Manhattan's Inwood Hill Park was the latest to ignite Wednesday afternoon, sending thick plumes of smoke rising above the city's skyline.
