FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Stevens County Complex Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Stevens County Complex Fire burning in Stevens County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 12:51 a.m. PDT on Aug. 15, 2015.

At the time of the request, the complex had burned four homes and eight outbuildings near Addy and over 1,000 homes were evacuated. There are sixteen known fires (Heine Rd, Marble Valley, Gold Hill, Finley Gulch, Fruitland, Lime 2, China Creek, Elbow Lake, Flat Creek, Deep Lake, Squaw Creek, Paradise Peak, Bonanza Hill, Grouse Mountain, and Hall Mountain) threatening homes, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources across the county. Shelters have been established at Gess Elementary, Oroville High School and Republic High School.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs 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.

FMAGs 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 items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.