Illegal Ammo Caused Shotgun Wildfire, Ocean County Man Charged With Arson: Prosecutor

Karen Wall, Patch Staff
Posted Sat, Nov 9, 2024 at 6:53 pm ET

JACKSON, NJ — A Brick Township man has been charged with arson in connection with a 350-acre wildfire in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area that threatened homes and forced evacuations, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday.

Richard M. Shashaty, 37, also has been charged with a violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms in connection with the Shotgun Wildfire that started Wednesday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Investigators determined the wildfire started behind a berm in the southwest corner of the range at the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club on South Stump Tavern Road, and was caused by magnesium shards of a Dragons Breath 12-gauge shotgun shell that ignited "available combustibles" on the berm of the shooting range.

They also were able to determine that Shashaty was the person who had fired the shells, authorities said.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/brick/illegal-ammo-caused-shotgun-wildfire-man-charged-arson-ocpo