A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly starting a forest fire in New Jersey. The teen, who is from Marlton, New Jersey, faces charges of aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, the Evesham Township Police announced on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Much of the state of New Jersey has been under a fire warning for weeks due to a lack of rain, low relative humidity, and at times, high winds. Due to the teen’s age, police have not released his name, but they believe he set the fire on purpose.
More from CafeMom: Teen’s Body Was Found Wrapped in Comforter Near the Highway — Now His Cousins Have Been Arrested
On October 30, police responded to a forest fire.
The Evesham Township forest fire started on October 30, and continued to burn for several days, police said in a statement. Police worked with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the Evesham Fire Department to try to contain the fire, which spread across 52 acres of land. Luckily, the blaze didn’t damage any structures.
They launched an investigation.
In an attempt to determine how the fire started, the Evesham Police Department’s Investigative Bureau, the Evesham Fire Department and Forest Fire Service collaborated to investigate the fire’s origin. Their “extensive investigation” led them to a 14-year-old. Police believe the teen “intentionally” started the fire.
More from CafeMom: ‘Intense’ Video Shows Moment Toddler Narrowly Missed Being Run Over Twice, After Darting Into Traffic
Another fire is also under investigation.
Another fire in the same area is also under investigation. Investigators are working to determine whether a fire that began on November 7, is connected to the fire that the 14-year-old allegedly started a week earlier.
According to police, the November 7 fire grew even larger, consuming 375 acres. Fortunately, the Evesham Fire Department and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service extinguished the fire before it caused damage to any structures.
The 14-year-old suspect was arrested on November 7.
The teen was arrested and charged. Police said the teen is at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center pending his first hearing. As the investigation is still ongoing, officers asked anyone with information about the fires to contact the Evesham Police Department.
The region is dealing with an abnormal number of fires due to drought.
New Jersey is currently in the middle of a dry spell. On November 13, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a drought warning. Per NBC News, the governor said the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to more than 500 wildfires in the region since the beginning of October.
