Federal Fire Suppression Funds Authorized For Louisiana
Release Date: September 12, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-091a
Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported today that federal fire suppression funds have been made available for Louisiana as a result of recent wildfires in the western part of the state.
According to the agency, the assistance requested by the state was authorized last night for the Western Louisiana Fire Complex that has consumed more than 16,900 acres of land and threatened numerous homes and other property in the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, DeSoto, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine and Vernon.
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $420,843. 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 10:44:06