A 14-year-old boy from Marlton, New Jersey, was taken into custody last week on charges related to allegedly starting a forest fire that scorched 52 acres, according to local law enforcement.

The fire, which began on October 30, spread through a wooded area near Sycamore Drive and close to the Berlin Township line, with authorities now examining if the teen may also have been involved in a larger fire nearby. Evesham police, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and local firefighters worked together to contain the blaze, which lasted for several days but fortunately did not damage any buildings. During the investigation, evidence emerged indicating the fire may have been intentionally set. Police identified the teen as a suspect, took him into custody without incident on November 7, and charged him with aggravated arson along with charges related to risking public safety. He is currently held at Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center, awaiting his initial court appearance.

Authorities are also exploring any potential connection between this fire and another, larger blaze that burned approximately 375 acres in the same vicinity on the day of the teen’s arrest. This larger fire was successfully put out after several days of efforts by firefighters. Recent weeks have seen multiple wildfires across New York and New Jersey as unusually dry conditions combined with high winds have heightened the fire risk in the region.

Tragically, an 18-year-old park employee from New York lost his life while fighting a wildfire that spread between the two states.

The National Weather Service has placed five states—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts—under fire weather advisories, with New York City itself currently under a “Red Flag Warning” due to increased wildfire risk.