Federal Funds Authorized To Help Fight Kentucky Wildfires
Release Date: November 23, 1999
Release Number: HQ-99-035a
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal funds were made available today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Kentucky battle an outbreak of uncontrolled wildfires located in the counties of Floyd, Martin and Pike.
FEMA Director James Lee Witt said the state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved over the past weekend immediately after it was reported that the Eastern District Fire Complex, consisting of eight fires, posed a threat to more than 2,000 homes in 13 communities. The fires had burned nearly 11,000 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 $144,090. 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: Tuesday, 30-Dec-2003 11:01:55