FEMA Provides Federal Funds to Help Fight Oregon Wildfire

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Dry Gulch Fire in Baker County, Ore.

FEMA Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire was threatened such destruction to constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant. There have been six such grants approved in Oregon since July 2015.

The grants can provide federal funds to support costs like firefighting tools and equipment, overtime compensation, mobilization and travel costs, meals, health and safety items.

The fire started on Sept. 13 and had burned more than 18,000 acres of federal, state and private lands. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 403 homes in and around the communities of Halfway and New Bridge. Evacuation orders were issued and roughly 300 people were evacuated. The fire was also threatening a major distribution line, cell towers and wildlife habitat in the area.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.