FEMA Authorizes Wildfire Funds For Wiley Ridge Fire 

A Season Record Thirteenth Fire Management Assistance Grant

Release Date: June 23, 2002
Release Number: HQ-02-095a

Denver, CO -- For the thirteenth time this year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to Colorado to help defray firefighting costs. FEMA approved assistance Sunday evening for the Wiley Ridge fire in Gunnison County, Colorado.

FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh approved the state’s latest request for federal fire management assistance when it became clear that the blaze was a threat to homes and businesses in the Antelope Hills subdivision, 2.5 miles north of Gunnison. 300 residents have been evacuated; 200 primary residences are in harm’s way. Residents of the Upper Castle Mountain subdivision, approximately 6 miles north northeast of Gunnison, have been alerted to the possibility of evacuation.

Federal fire management assistance is made available by FEMA to manage, mitigate and control fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. The assistance covers eligible state firefighting costs, including expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

FEMA fire management assistance has been authorized in Colorado this year 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; and now the Wiley Ridge fire, June 23.

Last Modified: Thursday, 28-Aug-2003 12:46:29