Man charged with arson after NJ wildfire sparked by shotgun round: Authorities

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

Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, was charged with arson and violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms, according to a news release from the Ocean County prosecutor 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 blaze was dubbed the Shotgun Fire.

Investigators concluded the fire began behind a berm at the rifle club and was caused by magnesium shards of a "Dragon's Breath" 12-gauge shotgun round, which ignited materials on the berm.

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

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

The Shotgun Fire was one of several large fires to ignite in New Jersey over the past several days, fueled by unusually dry and gusty conditions.

At a news conference on Saturday about two other wildfires burning 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 roughly 40 fires between Friday and Saturday, alone.

"Things have been dry. Crazy dry, actually," he said.

As for when firefighters will catch a break, Donelly said "It's up to Mother Nature, you know, when she brings the rain, we'll take a break. But until we see that there's, I don't see any break in sight."

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