Oakland, Calif. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California combat the Applegate Fire currently burning in Placer County.
On October 8, 2014, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Applegate Fire and FEMA approved the state’s request on October 8, 2014. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75 percent 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 200 primary residences in and around the communities of Applegate, Heather Glen, Weimer, and Twin Pines, which has a population of approximately 1,000. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 800 people. The fire started on October 8, 2014, and has burned in excess of 500 acres of state and private land.
The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for Federal Fire Management Grants (FMAGs) through FEMA to assist in fighting fires which threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use; repair and replacement; tools; materials; and supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.