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AIR FORCE GIVES COUNTY OVER $300,000 FOR PINELANDS WILDFIRE
By Keith Hagarty
In the aftermath of last year's wildfire, which swept through the Pinelands, forcing thousands of area residents to evacuate their homes and places of business, the United States Air Force announced a reimbursement plan this week to cover expenses incurred by Ocean County's towns, departments and agencies.
 | | --Photos Courtesy Of Jesse Violante The U.S. Air Force announced it will be providing $300,000 in reimbursement for the Ocean County towns for expenses incurred during last year's Pineland's wildfire. |
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According to the National Guard, the May 15-16 wildfire was caused by an Air Force training mission gone awry, when an F-16 fighter jet dropped flares as part of a maneuver over a gunnery range but accidentally set off the fire.
Ocean County will receive a total of $68,182 for expenses claimed by the Sheriff's Department, the Transportation Department, the Road Department and the Department of Vehicle Services.
According to the sheriff's office, funds were distributed to municipalities for labor costs incurred by the police departments who assisted, as well as material costs that are due to police, fire and first aid agencies.
"I am pleased that through the efforts of the county Office of Emergency Management and the municipal Offices of Emergency Management, working with the New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management, we were able to pursue this reimbursement from the Air Force," said Sheriff William J. Polhemus, who also serves as the Ocean County Emergency Management coordinator.
The highest municipality payouts were for two of the towns most affected by the May fire, with $87,267 given to Stafford, and another $40,922 for Little Egg Harbor.
Reimbursements for the county's 21 other municipalities are as follows: $2,419 for Barnegat Light, $5,903 for Beach Haven, $11,173 for Berkeley, $8,004 for Brick, $4,143 for Eagleswood, $2,304 for Harvey Cedars, $1,981 for Island Heights, $5,693 for Jackson, $5,784 for Lacey, $1,536 for Lakehurst, $1,936 for Lavallete, $6,470 for Long Beach, $5,186 for Manchester, $7,345 for Ocean Township, $2,085 for Ocean Gate, $3,696 for Point Pleasant, $2,793 for Point Pleasant Beach, $1,288 for Ship Bottom, $3,396 for Surf City, $7,228 for Toms River and $2,363 for Tuckerton.
The Stafford and Southern Regional school districts were also reimbursed for the expense of sheltering residents at their schools.
The Sheriff's Department was grateful for the Air Force's assistance, and praised the efforts of all who came together and risked their lives to help their neighbors.
"What is most heartening is the way so many municipalities assisted in this terrible emergency," said Polhemus. "Our county is fortunate that our volunteer and paid emergency responders always support each other in times of crisis."
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