FEMA authorizes federal funds to help battle North Carolina wildfires

Press release from FEMA:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to North Carolina to fight the Party Rock Fire burning in Rutherford and Buncombe counties.

This authorization makes FEMA grant funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. Eligible costs can include labor, equipment and supplies used for fighting the fire and costs for emergency work such as evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control.

“This wildfire constitutes a major threat to lives and property. FEMA has approved this request to ensure that North Carolina has the resources to fight this fire,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech. “State and local partners are the frontline responders battling this wildfire, and we will work closely with them.”

The state requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), and it was granted on the evening of November 11, 2016. The fire started on November 5 in Chimney Rock State Park, and had burned in excess of 1,101 acres of state and private land. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 500+ homes in and around the Lake Lure, Chimney Rock and Shumont communities. Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 800+ citizens and evacuations are expected to increase. There are 20 other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to fund firefighting activities when there is a fire threat that could cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided.