FEMA AUTHORIZES FUNDS TO FIGHT SWAWILLA FIRE IN WASHINGTON
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240725/fema-authorizes-funds-fight-swawilla-fire-washington]


Release Date: 
Juillet 25, 2024 

BOTHELL, WASH. -  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs
for the Swawilla Fire burning in on the lands of the Confederated
Tribes of the Colville Reservation and in Ferry and Okanogan counties,
Washington. 

The state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management
Assistance Grant
[https://www.fema.gov/fire-management-assistance-grant-program] (FMAG)
was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on
Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 6:07 p.m. PT. He determined that the
Swawilla Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would
constitute a major disaster. This is the third FMAG declared in 2024
to help fight Washington wildfires. 

At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in
and around the communities of Keller, Koontsville and Seatons
Grove. The fire also threatened the tribal Department of
Transportation, cultural and community resources, an Indian Health
Service clinic, Mt Tolman firefighting facilities and infrastructure,
parks and recreation complexes, rangeland, timber and farmlands,
hunting areas, powerlines, the Spirit Ridge Offices of Fish and
Wildlife and a tribal cemetery in the area. 

FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and
are 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. This
authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of
eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing,
mitigating, and controlling designated fires. These grants do not
provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not
cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire. 

In addition to the firefighting funds authorized under this FMAG,
another $1,313,482 will be available to Washington through the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire
[https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/post-fire] for the mitigation
of future wildfires and related hazards, such as flood after fire or
erosion. Some eligible wildfire project types include defensible space
measures, ignition-resistant construction and hazardous fuels
reduction. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/disaster-recovery-reform-act-2018]
authorizes FEMA to provide HMGP Post-Fire
[https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program-post-fire] funds
to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management
Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have
land burned within a designated area.  

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