FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Battle South Carolina Wildfires

ATLANTA, Ga.–The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to South Carolina to fight the Pinnacle Mountain Fire burning in Pickens County.

This authorization makes FEMA grant funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. Eligible costs can include labor, equipment and supplies used for fighting the fire and costs for emergency work such as evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control.

“This wildfire is a major risk to lives and property. FEMA has approved this request to ensure that South Carolina has the resources to fight this fire,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech. “State and local partners are the frontline responders battling this wildfire, and we will continue to work closely with them.”

The state requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), and it was granted in the late afternoon of November 12, 2016. The fire started on November 8, and at the time of the request, had burned in excess of 1,500 acres of state and private land. The fire was threatening 180 homes around Pinnacle Mountain including the Folsom Rest Subdivision (Sugar Likker Road), Bear Valley Golf Club Subdivision, and other numerous subdivisions along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy. The fire was also threatening communication towers, infrastructure, utilities, and  the Greenville watershed, Jocassee gorges, Gravely wildlife management area (black bear refuge), and Table Rock State Park. Mandatory evacuations have taken place for approximately 130 residences.  

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to fund firefighting activities when there is a fire threat that could cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided.

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