There is an increased risk for rapid fire spread this afternoon across portions of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.”

Forecasters are warning of low humidity and gusty wind increased the risk fire could spread across parts of New Jersey, Philadelphia and its suburbs and Delaware as firefighters continued to battled a vast wildfire in the Pine Barrens.

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.