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.

Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, was charged with arson and violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in a joint statement Saturday.

“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.

Firefighters achieved 90% containment of the Shotgun Wildfire, a 350-acre blaze in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, by Friday

JACKSON - The wildfire that started Wednesday afternoon grew to 300 acres overnight, but is 40 percent contained as of Thursday morning, according to authorities.

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.