Authorities say a man set wooden pallets on fire and failed to properly put them out in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, sparking a quick-moving wildfire with smoke affecting the air quality in the New York City area.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the Waretown man faces aggravated arson and arson charges in the southern New Jersey wildfire, which authorities said Thursday morning grew to more than 23 square miles.

A 19-year-old suspect is facing arson charges in the Jones Road Fire, one of the largest wildfires in New Jersey in the last 20 years. The smoke has triggered air quality alerts in New York City.