A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting a massive wildfire in New Jersey that has consumed at least 15,200 acres and is still burning Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, New Jersey officials, including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, announced the arrest of Joseph Kling of Waretown. He was charged with second-degree aggravated arson for allegedly intentionally damaging a forest, as well as third-degree arson for allegedly recklessly threatening buildings or structures.

Kling was arrested after authorities discovered the fire was “incendiary by an improperly extinguished bonfire,” according to the statement.

During his initial court appearance on Thursday afternoon, Kling did not enter a plea to the charges. The detention hearing is scheduled for April 29.

“We believe he is the person responsible for starting this fire, and we intend to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law,” Billhimer said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The prosecutor said he was “very confident” in the claim that Kling purposefully ignited the fire, but declined to elaborate due to the continuing investigation.

He clarified that additional arrests have not been ruled out.

In a criminal complaint filed in the case, investigators said that Kling “did purposely start the fire with the purpose of destroying or damaging any forest, specifically by lighting a bonfire off Jones Road in Waretown… and leaving it unattended causing a wildfire.”

The complaint goes on to accuse Kling of “recklessly placing a building or structure” in danger of damage or destruction.

The Jones Road Wildfire was discovered around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday near the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area in Waretown, according to officials.

According to authorities, the fire originated near the Waretown address that Kling identified as his house.

Fuelled by drought-ravaged vegetation, blustery winds, and low relative humidity, the fire quickly spread through the wildlife area’s Pine Barrens, jumped the busy Garden State Parkway, and threatened approximately 1,300 structures, according to fire officials.

According to officials, at least 7,000 people followed mandatory evacuation orders or chose to flee voluntarily.

“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,” they stated in the statement.

According to police, Kling was brought into custody at the Ocean Township Police Headquarters in Waretown.

According to the criminal complaint, Kling’s charges were based on eyewitness observations and testimonies, as well as “statements/admissions” made during a recorded interview at the Ocean Police Department stationhouse.

It was unclear what prompted investigators to suspect Kling’s potential involvement. During the news briefing, Billhimer stated that detectives also used advanced technology to locate Kling at the scene of the fire.

Kling was booked into the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently awaiting a detention hearing.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection, lauded firemen for “truly averting a major disaster.”

Although one business building was demolished and numerous cabins were damaged, officials claimed that no residences had been lost and no injuries had occurred.

The Jones Road Wildfire continued to burn on Thursday. The Fire Service said that the fire was 50% suppressed on Thursday afternoon.

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the fire is predicted to spread as dry conditions, winds, and low humidity promote its activity. During Thursday’s press conference, police cautioned citizens not to fly drones in the region since they could interfere with emergency service air operations.

With the fire burning and winds changing north, authorities expect some of the wildfire smoke to make it to New York City and Long Island. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory on Thursday morning that would stay in force through midnight.

“Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of Fine Particulates,” according to a press release from the agency.

According to the air quality index, anything above 100 for pollutants and fine particles in the air is deemed harmful, particularly for persons who are vulnerable to the impacts of high levels of pollutants, such as children and adults with pre-existing respiratory disorders.

Winds are predicted to change away from New York City and Long Island overnight, but they may shift back on Friday, bringing wildfire smoke to the area.