FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Wyoming Wildfire
Release Date: July 27, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-069
Washington, DC -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made federal funds available to help Wyoming fight the uncontrolled Green Knoll fire located in the Jackson Hole area of Teton County.
The state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved last night after learning that the blaze posed a threat to approximately 170 homes in two area subdivisions and forced the evacuation of about 300 people. The fire, which broke out last Sunday, had burned 2,000 acres of land at the time of the request.
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $51,367. The figure, called a floor cost, is derived through a formula based on the state's five-year annual average cost for fighting fires.
Federal fire suppression aid is provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires when they threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.
Last Modified: Thursday, 16-Oct-2003 09:06:19