Waretown Man, 19, Charged In Jones Road Wildfire Over Improper Bonfire: Prosecutor
A 19-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with setting the massive wildfire that scorched 15,000 acres and destroyed a commercial building this week, officials announced.
Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with the Tuesday, April 22 blaze, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski.
The fire was first spotted at 9:45 a.m. by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, which reported seeing smoke near Jones Roa…
Two South River Men Sold Fentanyl That Killed Barnegat Woman: Prosecutor
Two South River men were arrested and charged on Tuesday, April 22, after authorities say they sold fentanyl that killed a 34-year-old woman two months ago.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Barnegat Township Police responded to a residence and found a woman, who was not identified, dead from a drug overdose, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
An investigation determined Jeffrey Zachary, 56, and Ronald Zackery, 59, supplied the woman with heroin and fentanyl, Billhimer said.
The next day, detectives began surveilling Zachary, pulling him over in Barnegat, Billhimer said A search warrant …
Millions In CT Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why
Nearly half of all people in the United States, including millions across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to a new study.
The American Lung Association released its 2025 edition of the "State of the Air" report on Wednesday, April 23. The study, now in its 26th year, highlights troubling air quality trends in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The report found that 156 million people – about 46% of the U.S. population – are living in counties that earned failing grades f…
Air Quality Alert Issued For South Jersey After Wildfires
The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert on Wednesday, April 23, for parts of Southern New Jersey following the devastating wildfires in eastern Ocean County.
The air quality alert was issued for Ocean-Atlantic-Cape May-Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-Southeastern Burlington and includes the cities of Jackson, Hammonton, Cape May Court House, Ocean City, Atlantic City, Long Beach Island and Wharton State Forest.
The massive wildfire has burned through 11,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power as o…
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service
An otherwise idyllic spring day along the New Jersey coast was darkened by thick plumes of smoke as a massive wildfire scorched through 12,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power Wednesday, April 23.
🚨 A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, is tearing through 1,200 acres in Barnegat Township’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Ocean County, NJ, as of April 22, 2025, with 0% containment. Mandatory evacuations are underway for Wells Mills Road from Bryant… pic.twitter.com/61nPv8YRcH — Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) April 2…
Toms River Man, 28, Killed In ATV Crash At Clayton Pits: Police
A 28-year-old Toms River man died in a serious ATV crash Saturday, April 19, while riding through a wooded trail behind a golf course in Ocean County, authorities said.
Brandon Orozco-Avila was riding alone at approximately 6:18 p.m. in a rural trail area known as the Clayton Pits, located behind the Pine Barrens Golf Course off South Hope Chapel Road, when he lost control of his ATV and crashed, Jackson Township Police said in a release.
The ATV veered off the trail and slammed into several trees in a heavily wooded area, police said. Orozco-Avila was pronounced dead at the scene, the…
NY Man Crashes Van, Tries Carjacking, Hops In Police Cruiser During Ocean County Crime Spree
A New York man living in Atlantic City turned a Jersey Shore crime spree into chaos—smashing into an Audi, trying to yank a woman from her car, and climbing into a patrol cruiser before being dragged out by officers, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Wednesday, April 16.
Andrew Williams, 45, pleaded guilty to eluding, burglary, and fraudulent use of a credit card after his wild day in Brick and Stafford townships on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
Stolen Wallets, Crashed Van, Attempted Carjacking
It all started when an off-duty Brick Township officer saw two men near a blaring…
