New Jersey – The U.S. Air Force today opened an investigation into the cause of the forest fire that has burned more than 18,000 acres of the Pinelands in southern Ocean County, destroyed five homes and damaged eight others.
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The Air Force has formed an accident investigation board to formally probe the cause of the fire, which broke out during a training exercise Tuesday at the Warren Grove bombing range in Stafford Township.
The fire apparently was sparked when one of four aircraft taking part in the training
exercise released a flare, which are used in real combat to ward off heat-seeking missiles, officials have said.
If the accident investigation board determines that the Air Force was responsible for starting the fire, “the Air Force will step up and ensure that they incur all liability for the losses — either homes or any other personal property that was lost,”‘ said N.J. National Guard Major General Glenn K. Rieth during a news briefing this morning. [Asbury Park Press]