Man charged with arson after NJ wildfire sparked by shotgun: authorities

A New Jersey man has been charged with arson in connection with a wildfire that spread across 350 acres and that authorities said was sparked by an incendiary shotgun.

Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, was charged with arson and firearm violation. according to a press release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and other officials.

The fire, in Jackson Township in central New Jersey, broke out around noon on Nov. 6 near the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road, fire officials said.

The fire was called the Shotgun Fire.

Investigators concluded that the fire started behind a berm near the rifle club and was caused by magnesium fragments from a “Dragon’s Breath” 12-gauge shotgun round, which ignited materials on the berm.

Firing incendiary or tracer munitions is not allowed in New Jersey, authorities said.

Authorities said Shashaty was responsible for firing the bullet. He turned himself in to the police on November 9.

The Shotgun fire was one of many major fires that has flared up in New Jersey in recent days, fueled by unusually dry and windy conditions.

At a news conference Saturday about two other wildfires raging in New Jersey, Bill Donnelly, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said firefighters responded to a total of 400 fires last month and about 40 fires between Friday and Saturday alone.

‘It’s been dry. Very dry actually,” he said.

As for when firefighters will take a break, Donelly said, “It’s up to Mother Nature, you know, if she brings the rain, we’ll take a break. But until we see there is a break, I don’t see any break in view.” .”

The New Jersey wildfires pushed smoke into New York City, leading to hazy skies warnings about hazardous air quality.