Montana Receives More Federal Aid to Fight Wildfires
Release Date: August 8, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-088a
Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made federal funds available today to help Montana battle another uncontrolled wildfire. Designated as the Central Zone 3C Fire Complex, the wild fire is burning in Beaverhead and Madison counties.
Montana's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved after it was reported the blaze was threatening more than 200 homes and businesses. Firefighters consider this to be a very dangerous fire because it is advancing as fast as one mile per hour in some areas.
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $388,150. 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: Monday, 17-Nov-2003 11:07:37