A New Jersey teenager is being charged with arson following a fast-moving fire in the Pine Barrens that has grown to more than 20 sq miles and is expected to continue for several more days.

Ocean county prosecutors announced on Thursday that Joseph Kling, 19, of Ocean Township has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with the wildfire. The blaze began in Waretown on Tuesday and has continued to spread throughout the southern Ocean county area in New Jersey.

An investigation conducted by the Ocean county prosecutor’s arson squad, along with the state’s forest fire service and county fire marshal’s office traced the origin of the fire by using global positioning system (GPS). The fire was determined to have been caused by an improperly extinguished bonfire, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office.

Investigators concluded that Kling was responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire and leaving the area before the fire was totally extinguished.

Kling was taken into custody at the Ocean Township police headquarters and then transported to the Ocean county jail, where he is currently being held pending a detention hearing.

The fire, which is roughly 54 miles south of New York City, is causing elevated pollution levels throughout the city, as well as in the Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to the New York state department of environmental conservation.

Shawn LaTourette, the department of environmental protection commissioner, told the Associated Press that the fire was still “very active”. He added: “As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.”

The fire has burned at least one commercial building and prompted thousands of evacuations.

A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday by the acting governor, Tahesha Way. Officials said the fire is believed to be the second-worst in the last 20 years.