Girlfriends’ Tips Led to Breakthrough in Jones Road Fire Probe

Key information provided by the girlfriends of two suspects charged in the Jones Road Wildfire case has proven instrumental in unraveling how one of New Jersey’s largest wildfires in two decades began, investigators revealed Wednesday. The massive fire, which scorched over 15,300 acres in Ocean County last month, led to the arrest of 19-year-old Joseph Kling and a 17-year-old male juvenile on arson charges.

Text messages and social media communications between the suspects and their girlfriends contained crucial admissions that helped investigators establish a timeline of events prior to the fire, according to sources familiar with the investigation cited by New Jersey 101.5.

Bonfire That Blazed Out of Control

According to court documents and statements made during Kling’s detention hearing, the devastating fire began as a simple bonfire in a wooded area off Jones Road on April 21. Investigators say Kling used gasoline and a “gasoline-soaked item” to ignite wooden pallets he had collected from a local recycling center.

“What started as teenage recklessness quickly escalated into one of the most destructive wildfires our region has experienced in decades,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer during a press conference. “The suspects’ poor decisions were compounded by their failure to properly extinguish the fire before leaving the area.”

The investigation determined that a series of unexpected events led to the abandonment of the still-burning fire. While at the bonfire site, Kling and his companions learned that a friend, identified only as “JM” in court documents, had crashed his dirt bike into a tree nearby.

Digital Evidence Provided Breakthrough

Law enforcement officials report that the suspects’ girlfriends, whose names are being withheld because they are not charged with any crimes, came forward voluntarily after learning about the scope of the fire’s damage. They provided investigators with text message exchanges and social media posts that contradicted the initial stories told by Kling and his juvenile accomplice.

“The digital communications between the suspects and their girlfriends proved invaluable to our investigation,” said a senior investigator with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing case. “These messages contained admissions about how the fire started and their failed attempts to extinguish it.”

Among the digital evidence were messages where the suspects allegedly discussed their concerns about getting caught and attempts to coordinate their stories when questioned by authorities.

Timeline of Fire’s Progression

According to the investigation, after leaving the smoldering bonfire to check on their injured friend on April 21, neither Kling nor his accomplice returned to properly extinguish the flames. By the following morning, dry conditions and increasing winds had fanned the embers into a full-fledged wildfire.

The Cedar Bridge Fire Tower first spotted a column of smoke coming from the area around 9:45 a.m. on April 22. By the time emergency personnel arrived, the fire had already spread into the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area.

Over the next several days, the fire would grow to consume over 15,300 acres, force approximately 5,000 residents to evacuate, close sections of the Garden State Parkway, and destroy a commercial building in Lacey Township.

Additional Charges for Misleading Investigators

Both suspects now face not only arson and aggravated arson charges but also charges of hindering apprehension for allegedly providing false information to law enforcement about how the fire started.

“The initial statements given by the suspects were directly contradicted by the digital evidence provided by their girlfriends,” said another source close to the investigation. “When confronted with these discrepancies, they eventually acknowledged leaving the fire unattended.”

Kling remains held at the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, May 9. His attorney has indicated that Kling disputes the allegation that he intentionally set the fire. The 17-year-old co-defendant is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.

Fire Now Mostly Contained

As of Thursday, the Jones Road Wildfire was approximately 80% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Officials say the fire, which is the second-largest in New Jersey in the past two decades after a 2007 blaze that burned 26 square miles, has caused millions in damage and firefighting costs.

“The tremendous work of our Forest Fire Service and local emergency responders prevented this disaster from being much worse,” said Shawn Latourette, Commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection. “Their efforts saved countless homes and potentially lives.”

Officials warn that as New Jersey enters its summer months, dry conditions could lead to increased wildfire risks throughout the state.