FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Salt Creek Fire In Utah
Release Date: July 21, 2007
Release Number: R8-07-018
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DENVER, Colo. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this evening authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Salt Creek Fire. The fire is threatening approximately 125 homes in Holiday Oaks and surrounding subdivisions, has destroyed one home, and damaged the main water line to Nephi. The communities of Thousand Oaks and Indianola Valley are on standby for possible evacuation.
FEMA Director David Paulison approved Utah's request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 6 p.m. this evening, less than two hours after receiving a request from the state. According to the state's request the fire had burned approximately 14,000 acres and fire fighters were battling the blaze on private, state and BLM land. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.
This is the third FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant approved for Utah since the end of June:
- On June 30, 2007, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Neola North Wildfire.
- On July 7, 2007, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Milford Flat Wildfire.
Fire Management Assistance Grants are 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. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Sunday, 22-Jul-2007 10:06:18