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 the Badger Creek Fire in Wyoming.
FEMA Regional Administrator Lee dePalo approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) after receiving the state’s request this afternoon.
The fire is burning on both sides of Wyoming Highway 230 on federal, state, and private land. It is believed to have started near Forest Road 501, between Badger Creek and the North Fork of Pelton Creek, about 2 miles north of the Wyoming/Colorado state line. At the time of the request, the fire had burned approximately 500 acres and was 0% contained. Approximately 400 homes have been evacuated in the Fox Park, Miller Lake, Mountain Home, Wold Track, and Jelm subdivisions. An additional 172 homes are under a pre-evacuation advisory. In addition, the fire is threatening power and gas lines in the area.
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.
Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and 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.