JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A 37-year-old man from Brick Township has been charged with arson and firearms violations in connection with a wildfire that burned approximately 350 acres in Jackson Township, Ocean County authorities announced Friday.
As first reported by Shore News Network, that fire was caused by a man using illegal incendiary ammunition at a local rifle range.
Richard Shashaty was charged following an extensive investigation by multiple law enforcement and environmental agencies. The fire, which began on November 6 near the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road, prompted a large emergency response from local fire departments and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The fire shut down Cedar Swamp Road for days and put more than a dozens of homes at extreme risk during the fire. Those families were forced to evacuate as the fire neared.
The blaze was reported around 12:15 p.m. that day, according to the Jackson Township Police Department. Responders worked to contain the fire, which spread across hundreds of acres, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds. Officials determined the origin of the fire was behind a berm in the southwest corner of the rifle range, where incendiary ammunition had been discharged.
Thankfully, crews from local fire companies and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service were able to contain the fire, preventing a possible tragic scenario.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, determined that the fire was sparked by a “Dragon’s Breath” 12-gauge shotgun round, which contains magnesium shards capable of igniting combustibles. The use of incendiary or tracer rounds is prohibited in New Jersey. Due to the heightened risk of wildfire, which was publicly known at the time of the incident, Shastaty’s actions are deemed negligent.
Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, which operates the range, explicitly forbids the use of any illegal firearms and ammunition.
“Through a coordinated investigation, it was determined that Mr. Shashaty was responsible for firing the prohibited ammunition, which ignited the fire,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.
On November 9, Shashaty surrendered to authorities at the Jackson Township Police Headquarters, accompanied by his attorney. He was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is being held pending a detention hearing.
The wildfire investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, among others.
This video shows an example of the dragon’s breath munition and is not related to this incident.
