FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Rowena Fire burning in Hood River County

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Rowena Fire, burning in Hood River County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Rowena Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.  Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on August 6, 2014 at 3:41 p.m. PDT.

On August 6, 2014, the State of Oregon submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Rowena Fire, burning in Hood River County.  At the time of the request, 480 homes were threatened and about 500 people had evacuated the area.  The fire started on August 5, 2014, and has consumed approximately 1,500 acres of Federal and private land. Firefighting resources committed to this incident include fire crews, strike teams, helicopters, air tankers and engines. The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes, and transportation facilities.  The fire is currently uncontained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Oregon State’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 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.

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