Frequently Asked Questions
Fire Management Assistance Grant Program
Q: What is the difference between the United States Fire Administration Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP)?
A: The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to award one-year grants directly to fire departments of a State to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The primary goal is to provide assistance to meet fire departments' firefighting and emergency response needs. This program seeks to support departments that lack the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their firefighting personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards they may face.
The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP) provides a 75% federal cost-share reimbursement to States for actual costs. FEMA fire management assistance grants are made available to state and local governments, including Indian tribes, to minimize immediate adverse effects, and to manage and control wildland fires that threaten to cause major disasters. The assistance covers fire-related activities, including, but not limited to, firefighting and support services, pre-positioning federal, out-of-state, and international resources for up to 21 days, evacuations, sheltering, traffic control, emergency operations centers, and temporary repairs of damage caused by firefighting activities.
Q: My home was destroyed due to a wildfire, am I eligible to apply for assistance under the FMAGP?
A: No, the FMAGP provides reimbursements for actual costs to state and local governments including Indian tribes for eligible work declared under a fire management assistance declaration. The FMAGP does not provide for Individual Assistance under a declaration.
Q: Who can apply for a FM Declaration?
A: Only the Governor of a State or the Governor's Authorized Representative (GAR) is authorized to submit requests for fire management assistance declarations.
The GAR is the person empowered by the Governor to execute, on behalf of the State, all necessary documents for fire management assistance, including the declaration request.
Q: Who can apply for financial grant assistance under the FMAGP?
A: States, tribal governments, and local governments are eligible to apply through a State Grantee for a subgrant under an approved fire management assistance grant. Indian tribal governments are eligible to act as a grantee or apply as a subgrantee.
Q: What costs are eligible for funding under a fire management assistance grant?
A: Costs for eligible work may include:
- Pre-positioning of Federal, and out-of State resources for up to 21 days;
- Mobilization and demobilization;
- Emergency work (evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control);
- Operation and maintenance of equipment used in eligible firefighting activities; and
- Field camps and meals in lieu of per diem.
Q: What costs are ineligible under the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program?
- Costs incurred in the mitigation, management, and control of undeclared fires.
- Costs related to planning, pre-suppression, and recovery activities.
- Costs for the straight or regular time salaries and benefits of a subgrantee’s permanently employed or reassigned personnel.
- Costs for a declared fire burning on com-mingled Federal land when such costs are reimbursable to the State by another Federal agency.
Q: What does the term "mitigation" mean under the FMAGP?
A: Mitigation is defined as the necessary actions to minimize the damage caused by the declared fire. Mitigation is not defined as mitigation measures to prevent future fires, or other actions normally associated with Public Assistance Section 406 Mitigation measures or policy.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 18:11:32 EST