Teens Face Charges for NJ Forest Fire

A beer party in the woods led to a fire that burned more than 1,300 acres of Pinelands forest, forced 500 people to evacuate and closed the Garden State Parkway for 12 hours, authorities said Tuesday.

Ocean County authorities charged two adults and a 17-year-old boy with causing the fire by building an illegal campfire in the woods of Double Trouble State Park in Berkeley Township on June 2. The three were celebrating the 17-year-old's birthday, authorities said.

Christopher Walters, 19, James Marshall, 18, and the 17-year-old, all of Beachwood, were charged with starting an illegal fire, damaging state property and disrupting public transportation.

The 17-year-old was also charged with threatening a girl who he believed was cooperating with investigators.

All three suspects were released on summonses. No court dates have been set. They face between three to five years in prison, although Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas Kelaher said it is likely they could escape jail time because the offenses are third- and fourth-degree crimes.

"For 12 hours, the Garden State Parkway was shut down on a summer Sunday afternoon, which absolutely created havoc in this county," Kelaher said.

"It was a very scary situation," added Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano. "This could have devastated over 200 of our homes."

The fire destroyed one house, left two others uninhabitable, and caused lesser damage to 10 more. Kelaher estimated damage at $500,000, but said that number could rise to as much as $1 million after all costs were totaled. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The fire started in the northeast corner of the Pinelands region, a 1.1 million acre forest that covers parts of seven New Jersey counties.

Kelaher said forest fire danger remains high statewide due to dry conditions in the woods.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP