FEMA Authorizes Funding For Colorado Wildfire
Release Date: September 18, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-050a
Washington, D.C. -- Federal funds have been authorized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Colorado fight the uncontrolled Walker Ranch fire burning in Boulder County.
The fire suppression aid requested by the state was approved over the weekend after the agency was informed that the 400-acre blaze posed a threat to residents in the Pine Notch, Lake Shores and Juniper Heights subdivisions and forced the evacuation of 25 homes.
FEMA fire suppression assistance was previously authorized for Colorado last June for the Hi Meadow fire in Jefferson and Park counties and the Bobcat Gulch fire in Larimer County.
The authorizations make federal funds available to pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $91,286. The figure, called a floor cost, is derived through a formula based on the state's five-year annual average 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 10:42:09