A New Jersey man has been charged with arson for igniting a wildfire near Six Flags Great Adventure that prompted evacuation orders and threatened more than two dozen structures this week, officials announced Saturday.
Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, has also been charged with violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms in connection to the Shotgun Wildfire — which was first reported early afternoon on Wednesday in Jackson Township, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The fire spread to 350 acres over the next three days and was 90% contained as of Friday night, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
According to a joint statement by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, investigators determined that the fire started behind a berm in the southwest corner of the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club.
The investigation also found the fire was caused by magnesium shards of a dragon’s breath 12-gauge shotgun round — which ignited “available combustibles on the berm of the shooting range.”
New Jersey Forest Fire Service
The Shotgun Wildfire – Jackson Twp., Ocean County that was ignited by a man at NJ shooting range.
Dragon’s breath ammunition is not commonly used for hunting but for entertainment or special effects. Sales of the “highly controversial” shells are illegal in several states across the country — including New Jersey — “due to their potential to cause fires or injury,” according to the Ammunition Depot.
“Further investigation revealed that Shashaty was responsible for firing the ammunition and igniting the fire,” officials said.
He surrendered to Jackson Township Police Headquarters in the presence of his attorney on Saturday. He was then transported to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, where he’s being held pending a detention hearing.
