FEMA AUTHORIZES FUNDS TO FIGHT PATTON MEADOW FIRE IN OREGON [https://www.fema.gov/press-release/5409/20210816/fema-authorizes-funds-fight-patton-meadow-fire-oregon] Release Date: August 16, 2021 BOTHELL, WASH.  -  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Patton Meadow Fire burning in Lake County, Oregon. The state of Oregon’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 Acting Regional Administrator Vincent Maykovich on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at 12:14 a.m. PT. He determined that the Patton Meadow Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the third FMAG declared in 2021 to help fight Oregon wildfires. At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire was threatening homes in and around the community of Lakeview. The fire was also threatening power lines, cultural resources in the Klamath Basin and critical communications equipment on Grizzly Peak, including radio repeaters, law enforcement networks and a cellular tower. 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 the state’s 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 $584,083 will be available to Oregon 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.  ### Follow FEMA Region 10 on Twitter [https://twitter.com/femaregion10] and LinkedIn [http://www.linkedin.com/company/fema-region-10] for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov [https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/region-10] for more information. _FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters._