BOTHELL, Wash. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Ramsey Canyon Fire burning in Jackson County, Ore.
FEMA Region 10 Administrator Mike O’Hare determined that the fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. He approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 12:48 p.m. PDT on Friday.
The fire started Wednesday and had burned in excess of 1,300 acres of federal and private land at the time of the state’s request on Friday. The fire was 14 percent contained and was threatening homes in and around the communities of Ramsey Canyon, Meadows and Evans Creek. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for residents near the affected communities.
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.
In addition to reimbursement funding for fighting the fire, $566,667 in assistance will be available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 authorized FEMA to provide HMGP Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a declared area.
FEMA encourages HMGP Post-Fire funds be used for the mitigation of wildfire and related hazards, such as flood or erosion. However, HMGP is available for risk reduction of any hazard.
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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.