Federal Funds Authorized to Help Fight Washington State Wildfire
Release Date: July 25, 2000
Release Number: R10-00-64
Washington, D.C. -- Federal funds have been made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help Washington State battle the uncontrolled Rocky Hull fire located in Okanogan County.
According to the agency, the state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved over the past weekend immediately after it was reported that the 6,000-acre blaze had destroyed six homes and was threatening another 60 to 80 houses near the city of Oroville.
Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 70 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs that are above $1,061,941. 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: Tuesday, 18-Nov-2003 10:40:13