The Air Force will pay more than $83,000 to Barnegat for expenses related to a 2007 Pinelands forest fire that burned 17,000 acres.

Forest Fire 2007 NJ
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Barnegat officials say the township will be reimbursed for the costs of fighting the fire at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range, which started during practice by a flare from an F-16 fighter jet.

The township had sought $100,000 in a claim it submitted in 2008, but eventually was awarded $83,464.

Barnegat spent more on fire-related costs than any other community affected by the blaze. The town filed its claim separately from Ocean County and 23 other area municipalities, who collectively awarded more than $300,000.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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