A 14-year-old boy was arrested last week for allegedly igniting a New Jersey forest fire that destroyed 52 acres in an intentional act of arson, police said.

The teen, of Marlton, NJ, is accused of setting the Oct. 30 blaze that tore through an area near Sycamore Drive and the Berlin Township border over several days, and cops are now investigating if he may have played a role in starting an even larger fire, Evesham police announced Wednesday.

Evesham cops, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Evesham firefighters battled the inferno for multiple days and were able to contain it before any structures were damaged, police said in a press release.

The departments launched an investigation into the fire and soon found evidence suggesting the flames were intentionally set.

The teenager, whose name was withheld by cops due to his age, was then identified as a suspect.

He was arrested without incident on Nov. 7 and charged with aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage. He was booked in Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center, pending his first hearing.

Police are investigating if a 375-acre fire in the same area near Sycamore Drive that started on the same day of his arrest is connected to the Oct. 30 fire. The blaze was extinguished after firefighters battled it for multiple days.

Forest fires have burned through several areas in New York and New Jersey over the past few weeks as record-breaking dry weather coupled with powerful winds have battered the region.

An 18-year-old New York parks worker was killed Saturday battling a since-extinguished wildfire that crossed both states.

Five states — New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — are under fire weather warnings.

New York City is under a “Red Flag Warning” issued by the National Weather Service over the increased risk of brushfires.

Elsewhere in New York and New Jersey, firefighters are struggling to contain a massive forest fire consuming more than 7,000 acres across both states near Greenwood Lake’s eastern edge. The inferno, dubbed the Jennings Creek fire, was only 30% contained as of Wednesday afternoon.

A bushfire in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park was the latest to ignite on Wednesday afternoon — sending thick smoke high above the city skyline.

The Manchester Township School District in Ocean County is facing multiple lawsuits, with one former superintendent arguing he was fired due to anti-LGBTQ+ bias.

John Berenato, who served as superintendent and is gay, claims the Manchester Board of Education fired him after community members and board officials targeted him in a campaign for his ouster.

Berenato’s lawsuit describes derogatory remarks and overt hostility from district staff and community members, which he says were part of an effort to dismantle LGBTQ+ protections and undermine his leadership.

His lawsuit against the district accuses officials of fostering a hostile work environment intolerant of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.

Two other former employees, Bridget Antonucci and Lori Burns, have also filed lawsuits against the district and various officials, including current Superintendent Diane Pedroza.

Pedroza did not respond to requests for comment. In an email on Monday, the district said it could not comment or provide information on pending litigation.

Antonucci, the former director of special services, claims that her support for state-mandated inclusive policies and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ colleagues led to targeted harassment and eventual termination. She states in her lawsuit a campaign of retaliation began in late 2023.

Burns, former director of early childhood education and a lesbian, says she experienced anti-LGBTQ+ comments from district officials who opposed her efforts to promote an inclusive curriculum.

Known for her work on LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, Burns resigned in June, citing a hostile environment for diversity advocacy.

All three former employees accuse the district of violating New Jersey’s anti-discrimination laws and are seeking damages for emotional distress, lost wages, and punitive measures against those involved.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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