SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Brimstone Fire burning in Josephine County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on August 1, 2013 at 11:01 PM PDT. 

The fire started on July 25, 2013 and has burned approximately 1,711 acres of land under state jurisdiction. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 110 primary homes near the town of Merlin and Sunny Valley, OR. Approximately 300 residents are under evacuation notice. The fire was also threatening two railroad trestles and multiple utility lines. At least 700 staff are supporting fire suppression efforts. There are multiple other fires and complexes burning uncontrolled within the State and across the region. Lighting has ignited multiple new fires across the region since the time of the request, forcing resources to be redirected to initial attack.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Oregon 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 items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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.