FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Wyoming Wildfire 

Release Date: November 20, 2003
Release Number: R8-03-126

DENVER -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today authorized the use of federal funds to help Wyoming fight the Tongue River fire, which burned in Sheridan County, outside the town of Dayton. Dayton is about 20 miles northwest of Sheridan, just along the eastern boundary of the Bighorn National Forest, and only a few miles south of the Montana state line.

Michael D. Brown, FEMA Director and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Department of Homeland Security, approved the state’s request for federal fire management assistance at 12:40 a.m., immediately after confirming that the fire was threatening 300 homes and businesses. The fire, which started earlier in the evening of Nov. 19, had consumed more than 3,000 acres and forced evacuations at the time of the request.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.

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. State firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Thursday, 20-Nov-2003 17:11:26