DENVER - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for two Utah fires, the Knolls Fire burning in Utah County near Lake Mountain and the Canal Fire burning in Millard County.
FEMA Regional Administrator Lee dePalo approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) after receiving the separate requests earlier today and determining that both fires threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
At the time of the request, the Knolls Fire was threatening 1,000 homes, which were under an evacuation order. The fire started on June 28 and has burned in excess of 2,000 acres of state, federal and private land. It is 0 percent contained.
At the time of the request, the Canal Fire was threatening 60 homes in addition to power infrastructure and $1 million in farm equipment. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 300 people. This fire started on June 25 and has burned in excess of 2,000 acres of state and private land and is 0 percent contained.
The 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.
Fire Management Assistance Grants 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.
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