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FEMA to provide federal funds to combat massive California fire


August 26, 2013   by Canadian Underwriter


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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States has authorized the use of federal funds to fight the Rim Fire currently burning in Tuolumne County in California.

FEMA to provide federal funds to combat massive California fire

On Friday, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the fire, which began Aug. 17 and  has burned more than 105,620 acres of federal, state, and private land.

The authorization announced Monday makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75% of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 2,434 homes in and around the communities of Buck Meadows, Groveland, Me-wuk Village, Pine Mountain Lake, Ponderosa Hills, Tuolumne City, Twain Harte, and Yosemite Vista, with a combined population 9,697, according to FEMA.

Roughly 1,947 of the threatened homes are primary residences and 487 are secondary homes, according to the agency.  

The fire was also threatening 2,494 buildings, the Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir, power lines, and multiple watersheds in the area.

Mandatory evacuations were issued for about 1,050 people, and voluntary evacuations were issued for 2,846 people.  

The President’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible costs covered by the grant can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.


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