Federal Funds Authorized To Help Texas Fight Purgatory Fire
Release Date: January 5, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-004
Washington, DC -- Federal funds have been made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Texas fight the uncontrolled Purgatory fire located in Comal County.
FEMA Director James Lee Witt said the state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved yesterday evening after learning that the 450-acre blaze was endangering approximately 120 homes in the community of Oak Valley Estates.
The authorization follows a similar action taken last Monday for the Saddleback fire that forced the evacuation of some 300 residents in the community of Coyote Ridge located in Wise County.
Under the authorizations, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting expenses once the state's floor cost has been met. The 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: Monday, 17-Nov-2003 09:23:27