FEMA Public Affairs (626) 431-3843

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 Way Fire currently burning in Kern County.

On August 18, 2014, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Way Fire and FEMA approved the State’s request on August 19, 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 1,300 primary homes in and around the communities of Kernville with a population of 1,395, Wofford Heights with a population of 2,200 and Alta Sierra Community with a population of 300. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 250 people. The fires started on August 18, 2014, and has burned in excess of 1,908 total acres of Federal, State, and private land.

The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants (FMAG’s) through FEMA to assist in fighting fires which threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAG’s 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.

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