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The Navy has paid $11,170 to San Diego Gas & Electric for damages caused by the its dropping of metallic fibers called “chaff” on an SDG&E; substation in Miramar on Jan. 15.
A Navy plane taking off from Miramar Naval Air Station accidentally dropped several bundles of the hairlike fibers on the substation, causing blackouts and other electrical malfunctions, said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Fred Larson.
To date, the Navy has received claims totaling $96,250 from 32 people and businesses that were affected, of which it has paid 20 for a total of $34,735.
In June, the Navy paid $49,000 to SDG&E; for damages caused by a similar incident Jan. 10 when the Navy dropped millions of the fibers offshore as part of an air-defense exercise. During that incident, the chaff knocked out power to 65,000 SDS&E; customers, a company spokesman said.
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