FEMA Quickly Authorizes Firefighting Funds For Nevada's Voltaire II Fire
Release Date: September 29, 2003
Release Number: R9-03-87
» 2003 Region IX News Releases
Oakland, CALIF. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA has authorized firefighting funds to help Nevada fight the Voltaire II fire burning in Carson City near the Carson Indian Colony within hours of being contacted by the state.
Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, approved the request for federal fire management assistance at 5:50 p.m. EDT. At that time, the 30-acre fire posed an immediate threat to 75 homes and 25 businesses. The state made the request at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
The authorization is the fourth granted to the state this year. FEMA firefighting assistance was previously authorized for the Robb fire on July 15 and the Red Rock fire on July 11 both near Reno and the Spooner fire outside Carson City on June 17.
Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. The assistance pays 75 percent of a state's eligible firefighting and emergency response costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. 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.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 08:52:25