Man Charged With Arson in Massive N.J. Pine Barrens Wildfire

Okay, so here’s the thing about the recent Pine Barrens fire. The left seems to have conveniently ignored the fundamental facts surrounding the incident. A 19-year-old from Waretown, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with arson and aggravated arson. His crime? He started a bonfire using wooden pallets and left them without fully extinguishing the blaze. This negligence led to a quick-moving wildfire with smoke affecting air quality even in the New York City area.

It’s peak forest fire season in the vast pine wilderness covering more than a million acres—an area roughly as large as the Grand Canyon. The conditions were ripe for a wildfire, with firefighters already battling low humidity and the aftermath of a prolonged drought in the region. Yet, this individual’s reckless act has resulted in a fire that’s still burning in southern New Jersey. And let’s be clear, this is not a small blaze. The fire had grown to more than 23 square miles by Thursday, encroaching on what officials believe to have been the largest wildfire in the state in the last two decades.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation. Large tracts of the Pine Barrens may be uninhabited, but the fire could threaten nearby developments. Already, a commercial building and some vehicles have been destroyed. About 5,000 people had to be evacuated, though they were allowed to return home on Wednesday.

The effects of this fire are not confined to New Jersey. Elevated pollution levels were expected Thursday in New York City, Rockland and Westchester counties, as well as in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey also issued a warning about air quality, advising that smoke will continue to permeate the area.

The man’s negligent act has had far-reaching consequences. Officials believe this fire is the second-worst in the last two decades, smaller only than a 2007 blaze that burned 26 square miles. Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency Wednesday, and officials said they’ve contained about 50% of the wildfire. That’s just not true. This fire is still very much active, and its effects are being felt beyond the state borders.

The bottom line is this: reckless behavior has dire consequences. And in this case, the left’s lackadaisical attitude towards personal responsibility is fueling a dangerous narrative that absolves individuals of their actions. Those are the facts, regardless of how they make anyone feel.