FEMA Funds Authorized For Colorado's Panorama Fire 

Release Date: July 31, 2002
Release Number: HQ-02-125a

Denver, CO -- The Panorama fire, burning in Garfield and Eagle Counties, is the latest to qualify for fire suppression assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant Wednesday evening, after state officials asked for help to cover the costs of fighting the blaze, which began earlier in the day. At the time of the request, several subdivisions had been evacuated, with more homes being threatened by the fire.

"The state of Colorado is being threatened by yet another wildfire," said FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh. "FEMA's dedication to the people of Colorado will not falter during this wildfire season. Both FEMA and the Bush Administration will remain steadfast in support of our state and local partners in the fight to protect Colorado citizens and communities."

Fire Management Assistance grants are used to help manage and control fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. The Panorama fire is the seventeenth Colorado wildfire this year to qualify for a FEMA fire assistance grant.

The grants are used to reimburse 75 percent of eligible state and local costs associated with the firefight. The assistance covers costs such as firefighting and support services; pre-positioning federal and out-of-state resources; evacuations; sheltering; traffic control; security; and emergency operations centers.

FEMA fire management assistance in Denver's Region 8 has been authorized this year for fires in five states. In Colorado, grants have been approved for the Snaking fire April 23; the Cuerna Verde fire, May 1; the Black Mountain fire, May 5; the Schoonover fire, May 23; the Iron Mountain fire, June 2; the Trinidad Complex fire, June 3; the Ute Pass fire June 7; the Coal Seam fire, June 8; the Hayman fire, June 9; the Dierich fire, June 10; the Missionary Ridge fire, June 11; the Million fire, June 19; the Wiley Ridge fire, June 23, and the Valley fire, June 25, the Burn Canyon fire, July 15; Big Elk fire, July 18. In other states, fire management assistance grants also have been authorized for: the Hensel fire in Wyoming, June 18; the Grizzly Gulch fire near Deadwood, South Dakota, June 29, the Again fire in North Dakota, June 29, the Reese Mountain fire in Wyoming, July1 and the Mustang fire in Utah, July 1.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 16:09:41