FEMA Authorizes Additional Funds To Help Texas, Oklahoma Fight Fires
Release Date: January 6, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-004
WASHINGTON , D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week authorized the use of additional federal funds from the Nation's Disaster Relief Fund to help Texas and Oklahoma fight fires burning in those states. The announcement comes on the heels of an earlier announcement this week that FEMA will fund firefighting efforts on 17 other fires in Texas , Oklahoma and New Mexico .
"These additional fire management assistance grants are critical and necessary steps to help states and localities fund continuing firefighting efforts," said Acting FEMA Director David Paulison. "We continue to be committed to getting our firefighters the funds they need to extinguish dangerous fires that threaten lives and property."
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant specifically designed for managing, mitigating and controlling any fire that threatens to become a major disaster.
The following fires were approved for by the new Fire Management Assistance Grants:
Texas
- Bulverde Fire in Bexar County , which has destroyed one home and threatens 50 others in Indian Hills.
- Rosewood Fire in Bell County has burned 250 acres and is threatening the city of Killeen . 540 homes are threatened and 250 people have been evacuated.
- Mill Creek Fire in Nacogdoches County has burned 150 acres and is threatening the city of Nacogdoches .
Oklahoma
- Eufaula Fire in McIntosh County , which is threatening 800 homes in the Town of Eufaula .
Earlier this week, FEMA authorized Fire Management Assistance Grants for:
Texas
- Carbon Fire in Eastland County .
- Ringgold Fire in Montague and Clay counties.
- Kennedale Fire in Tarrant County .
- Callahan County Fire .
Oklahoma
- Hughes County Fire Complex in Hughes and Seminole counties.
- Depew Fire Complex in Creek County .
- Wainwright Fire Complex in Muskogee County .
- Shamrock Fire Complex in Creek County .
- Bethel Acres Fire in Pottawatomie County .
- Cashion Fire Complex in Kingfisher County .
- Guthrie Fire in Logan County .
- Sapulpa Fire Complex in Creek County .
- Prague Fire Complex in Lincoln and Okfuskee counties.
- 63rd Street Fire in Oklahoma County .
- Eastern Oklahoma County Fire Complex.
- Achille Fire Complex in Bryan County .
New Mexico
- Southeast New Mexico Fire, Lea County, which has burned more than 35,000 acres and forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate. The fire threatened Hobbs and Tatum.
"The federal emergency response family continues to monitor the fires in New Mexico , Oklahoma and Texas extremely closely," Paulison said. "The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise is supporting the operational needs of all states. FEMA will continue to provide coordination and support at the regional and national level as needed."
Federal fire management assistance is 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 costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; sheltering; and mobilization and demobilization activities.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
Last Modified: Friday, 06-Jan-2006 15:56:38