SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the South Wenas Fire burning in Yakima County, Washington.
FEMA Region X Acting Administrator Sharon Loper determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Administrator Loper approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 3:09 a.m. PDT on June 28, 2017.
At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 120 homes in and around Collins Road, located within less than a mile northwest of the Town of Selah. Approximately 100 percent of the threatened homes are primary residences. The fire was also threatening Yakama Power and Yakima County Pacific Power lines, Yakima County roads, agricultural-irrigation equipment and businesses, the Selah-Naches Irrigation District, hiking recreational areas, as well as habitat of the threatened Ferruginous Hawk and Sage-Grouse. Voluntary evacuations were issued to approximately 480 residents threatened by the fire. Yakima Office of Emergency Management was coordinating the opening of a shelter. The fire started on June 27, 2017, and had burned in excess of 600 acres of state and private lands. The fire was zero percent contained at the time of FMAG approval.
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs 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.
FMAGs 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.