FEMA Authorizes Funds For Second Oregon Wildfire
Release Date: July 17, 2002
Release Number: HQ-02-113
Washington -- For the second time in the same day, federal funds were made available for Oregon by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help fight the outbreak of another uncontrolled wildfire burning in Lake County.
FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh approved the state's latest request for federal fire management assistance last night after learning that the Winter fire posed a threat to 200 homes and had forced the evacuation of 40 people in the town of Paisley and the Summer Lake Subdivision. The fire, located 70 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, was started by lightning on July 12 and had burned 18,000 acres at the time of the request.
Earlier yesterday, FEMA authorized funding for the Eyerly fire that was endangering residents of the Three Rivers Subdivision in Jefferson County.
"These fires are a serious threat to life and property," Allbaugh said. "FEMA is committed to ensuring that firefighters in Oregon and elsewhere have the resources they need to contain them before people are injured and homes are lost."
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 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.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 16:36:36