A man has been charged with arson after allegedly firing an illegal shotgun round that sparked a wildfire in New Jersey that burned at least 350 acres of land.

A massive wildfire that scorched 350 acres in Jackson Township was ignited by an illegal shotgun round that authorities said was fired by a 37-year-old Brick Township man.Authorities charged Richard Shashaty,

“The fire was caused by magnesium shards of a Dragon’s Breath 12 gauge shotgun round igniting available combustibles on the berm of the shooting range. The firing of this type of incendiary or tracer ammunition is prohibited in the State of New Jersey,” law enforcement and forest fire officials said in a statement.

Richard Shashaty, 37, was allegedly using illegal tracer ammunition at the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday when he fired a round at a grass berm. Shards of magnesium touched off a fire that spread quickly on the parched ground, Ocean County Bradley D. Billhimer said.

A man was arrested for arson in connection to the wildfire that burned near Six Flags Great Adventure this week, according to officials in New Jersey. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service released a joint statement explaining that 37-year-old Richard Shashaty,

A Brick man has been charged with arson in connection with the Shotgun Wildfire that forced evacuations and burned some 350 acres in Jackson, officials said. Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, was charged with arson and violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms,

The wildfire that started Wednesday afternoon grew to 300 acres overnight, but is 40 percent contained as of Thursday morning, according to authorities. The fire - named the Shotgun Wildfire - continues to threaten six nearby structures as it burns in the in the area of Stump Tavern Road in Jackson Township,