A meeting between New Jersey lawmakers and the Air Force on May 21 has resulted in the promise of a full investigation into the fire that burned 17,000 acres and forced thousands from their homes near Warren Grove Gunnery Range. The New Jersey Air National Guard has acknowledged that one of its F-16 fighters started the fire. In a joint statement, Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez noted that the fire was the latest in a string of incidents on the range dating from a 1999 fire. Lautenberg said, “We need an investigation that yields real results—the community must be assured that there will be specific changes to prevent mishaps in the future.” Menendez wants an assurance that the range training mission “can be reconciled with the safety of New Jersey residents.” Air Combat Command, the gaining command for the 177th Fighter Wing, has placed Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw, ANG assistant to the ACC commander, in charge of the investigation.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
