Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the Waretown man faces aggravated arson and arson charges in the southern New Jersey wildfire, which authorities said Thursday morning grew to more than 23 square miles. (59 square kilometers).

Authorities have charged a man with arson after they say he set wooden pallets on fire and failed to properly put them out in New Jersey's Pine Barrens, sparking an ongoing wildfire.

He set wooden pallets on fire and failed to properly put them out, leading to the 13,000+ blaze, authorities said.