FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Sleepy Hollow Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Sleepy Hollow Fire, burning in Chelan County, Wash.
FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Sleepy Hollow Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on June 28, 2015 at 10:45 p.m. PDT. This is the first FMAG approved in the state of Washington this fire season.
The fire started on June 28, 2015, and at the time of the request had burned approximately 2000 acres of private and state land including 6 residences. The fire threatened approximately 630 primary residences in and around the neighborhoods of Broadview, Horse Lake, and N. Western Avenue, in the area of West Wenatchee within the Wenatchee city limits, and to the northwest in the neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow Heights, approximately one mile from Monitor, Wash. Approximately 230 people evacuated from the area. Sheltering operations are ongoing for both community members and livestock.
Firefighting resources onsite include fire suppression crews, engines, overhead supervision, and aircraft support with additional resources on order. The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to community and homes due to favorable burning conditions and extreme fire behavior, including rapid spread rates, spotting and high resistance to control. The fire was at 0 percent containment.
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible
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items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.