Federal Funds Authorized To Help Fight Nevada Wildfires
Release Date: June 30, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-097
Washington, DC -- Federal funds were made available today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Nevada battle uncontrolled wildfires located in Washoe County.
According to the agency, the state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved this afternoon when it was reported that the Reno Fire Complex, consisting of two fires, posed an immediate threat to residents in the Antelope Valley Subdivision and the Reno Sparks Indian Colony. The fires, which started last Wednesday, had consumed 12,000 acres of land at the time of the request.
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $329,727. The figure, called a 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 09:57:13