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JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 37-year-old Brick Township man has been charged with arson and firearms violations in connection with a wildfire that burned about 350 acres in Jackson Township, authorities said Friday. Ocean County.

As first reported by Shore News Network, this fire was started by a man using illegal incendiary munitions at a local shooting range.

Richard Shashaty was charged following an extensive investigation by multiple law enforcement and environmental agencies. The fire, which broke out Nov. 6 near the Central Jersey Shooting Range on Stump Tavern Road, sparked an extensive emergency response by local fire departments and the Wildland Fire Department from New Jersey.

The fire closed Cedar Swamp Road for days and put more than a dozen homes in extreme danger during the fire. These families were forced to evacuate as the fire approached.

The fire was reported around 12:15 a.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 high winds. Authorities determined the origin of the fire was behind a berm in the southwest corner of the range, where incendiary munitions had been fired.

Fortunately, crews from local fire companies and the New Jersey Forest Fire Department were able to contain the fire, preventing a possible tragic scenario.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, determined that the fire was started by a 12-gauge “Dragon’s Breath” shotgun shell, which contains magnesium fragments capable of igniting combustibles. The use of incendiary or tracer rounds is prohibited in New Jersey. Due to the increased wildfire risk, which was publicly known at the time of the incident, Shastaty’s actions are considered negligent.

The Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, which operates the shooting range, explicitly prohibits the use of illegal firearms and ammunition.

“Through a coordinated investigation, it was determined that Mr. Shashaty was responsible for firing the prohibited munitions, which ignited the fire,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement .

On November 9, Shashaty surrendered to authorities at Jackson Township Police Headquarters, accompanied by his attorney. He was then 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 Crimes Unit, New Jersey State Arson Squad, Fire Marshal’s Office of Ocean County and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, among others.

This video shows an example of dragon breath ammunition and is not related to this incident.