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OCEAN COUNTY, NJ – A 37-year-old Ocean County man is behind bars on arson charges after officials say he fired a gun, igniting the Shotgun Fire in Jackson Township.

Richard Shashaty, of Brick Township, turned himself into police Saturday.

Investigators say the fire burned about 350 acres of land and started on Nov. 6. It was ignited by magnesium shrapnel from a shotgun.

The fire forced the evacuation of people from nearby homes along Stump Road.

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Officials later identified Shashaty as the person responsible for firing the rifle, starting the fire.

He is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.