Kentucky Wildfires Designated For FEMA Assistance
Release Date: November 5, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-160
Washington, DC - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized assistance to help Kentucky fight three multiple wildfires that pose a threat to populated areas in the eastern part of the state.
The state's requests for federal fire management assistance were approved over the weekend after it was reported that the Eastern District, Kentucky River and Southeastern District Complex Fires had consumed more than 49,000 acres and were endangering several thousand residences in a 25-county area.
The affected counties include Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin and Pike (Eastern District Complex); Breathitt, Estill, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Owsley; Perry, Powell and Wolfe (Kentucky River Complex); and Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, McCreary, Rockcastle and Whitley (Southeastern District Complex).
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.
Federal fire management assistance 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: Wednesday, 15-Oct-2003 09:26:54