Federal Assistance Authorized For Tennessee Wildfires
Release Date: November 5, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-159
Washington, DC -- Federal assistance has been made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Tennessee fight an outbreak of multiple wildfires burning in the counties of Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion, Polk and Sequatchie.
According to the agency, the state's request for federal fire management assistance was approved over the weekend after it was reported that the Chattanooga Complex Fire, consisting of 15 fires, posed a threat to the communities of Altamont, Dunlap and Palmer. The fire, which started last Saturday, had burned 15,000 acres at the time of the request.
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 10:37:25