Man Charged With Setting N.J. Fires

Dozens of times in the last several weeks, John Lovrovic drove onto federally protected woodlands, piled up twigs, magazines and other combustibles, added gasoline and set it all ablaze, authorities said Friday.

Then he set other fires nearby, hoping they would combine for a major forest fire, they said. Officials allege that he once set eight fires in the same area; none burned more than half an acre.

Lovrovic, 26, who is unemployed, was arrested Wednesday night, when, police said, they caught him igniting a fire in Barnegat Township, a community on the New Jersey shore about 30 miles north of Atlantic City.

He was charged with criminal mischief and attempting to cause widespread injury in 14 of 36 fires in three counties that began June 13. Each charge carries a maximum of 18 months in jail.

Lovrovic is believed to be responsible for as many as 40 fires, all in parts of the huge Pinelands National Reserve, and authorities expect to file additional charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Daniel Carluccio said. But authorities can’t charge him with arson, because the state’s arson law doesn’t apply to forest fires, he said.

Lovrovic was being held on $100,000 bail, and did not enter a plea at a court appearance Friday. His motive was unknown.