USDA, DOI, FEMA Provide
Firefighters, Aircraft, and Federal Grants to Support Local Partners Combating
Fires
WASHINGTON— Federal partners are working
closely with first responders and firefighters from local, state, and tribal
agencies to combat and monitor wildfires in Arizona, California, Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, Wyoming as well as other states. Through the National Interagency
Fire Center, which coordinates resources from the US Forest Service, Department
of the Interior and other federal agencies, firefighters, incident management
teams, airtankers, helicopters, fire engines and other resources are being
provided to supplement state and local resources as teams continue to respond
to fires across the West.
Today, 19 active large fires are burning
in nine states, including one of the largest wildfire in New Mexico history and
one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history. To help fight these damaging
fires, federal agencies have made approximately 4,500 firefighters available to
aid in efforts to suppress and contain the fires.
Yesterday, the Forest Service announced
the agency has mobilized eight additional aircraft to its firefighting fleet to
ensure that an adequate number of airtankers are available for wildland
firefighting efforts. With these additional airtankers, the Forest Service has
16 large airtankers and one very large airtanker available immediately for
wildfire suppression. The Forest Service has the capability to mobilize an
additional 11 large airtankers, should circumstances require it.
Additionally, the Forest Service and the
Department of the Interior fire agencies can mobilize hundreds of helicopters
and dozens of smaller aircraft, called “single-engine airtankers.”
To ensure states have the financial
support they need, FEMA has provided Fire Management Assistance Grants to
states with active large fires. These grants help cover eligible costs, on a 75
percent cost share basis, and can reimburse state and local costs associated
with personnel and equipment used to combat fires. On Saturday June 9th, FEMA
authorized the use of federal funds, through the Fire Management Assistance
Grant Program (FMAG), to help with eligible firefighting costs for the High Park
Fire located in Larimer County, Colorado and the Little Bear Fire located in
Lincoln County, New Mexico. On May 26, an FMAG was approved for the
Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire located in New Mexico.
While extremely serious fires are
burning in several states, to date the season has been below average, meaning
that additional resources remain available should they be necessary.
“We continue to support our state,
local, and tribal partners as they work to contain and suppress the wildfires
burning in the West,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Our fire
managers are bringing extensive resources to bear to respond vigorously to
those wildfires threatening lives, communities, and cultural and natural
resources, and we stand ready to provide additional eligible resources as
necessary.”
“We’re bringing the full range of our
federal, tribal, state, local and non-governmental resources together to manage
these wildland fires and reduce risk to communities,” said Secretary of the
Interior Ken Salazar. “We remain vigilant and continue to do all we can to
ensure the safety of all firefighters in this challenging wildlife season.”
“FEMA continues to closely monitor the
fires in several southwestern states, and is providing financial support
through our Fire Management Assistance Grant program to assist efforts, led by
firefighters, public safety officers, and emergency personnel, to fight and
mitigate the volatile wildfire conditions,” said Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano.
On average the USDA Forest Service and
the Department of the Interior bureaus respond to more than 20,000 wildfires
per year. Federal firefighters, aircraft, and ground equipment are
strategically assigned to parts of the country as the fire season shifts across
the nation. Firefighting experts will continuously monitor conditions and move
these assets as necessary to be best positioned and increase initial attack
capabilities. In addition, federal agencies are conducting accelerated
restoration activities nationwide that will result in healthier forests and
will lessen fire risks in years to come.
Federal land managers are also helping
communities prepare for wildfire. Federal partnerships with tribal, state, and
local agencies strengthen preparedness programs, such as Firewise
http://www.firewise.org/ and Ready Set Go! http://www.iafc.org/readySetGo that
help families and communities prepare for and survive wildfire. You can also
visit FEMA’s Ready.gov http://www.ready.gov, to learn more about steps you and
your family can take now to be prepared for an emergency.
For more information, visit
www.ready.gov.
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