OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combating the SCU Lightning Complex burning in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties.
On Aug. 20, 2020, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the SCU Lightning Complex. At the time of the request, fires threatened approximately 30,500 homes in Santa Clara County and 8,200 homes in Stanislaus County, with mandatory evacuations in place for approximately 17,150 people. The fires also threatened communications, transportation, power and gas distribution infrastructure; public schools, fire stations, regional parks, and watersheds; and the Lick Observatory.
The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Aug. 20, 2020, as the fires threatened to become a major incident.
FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides allowances for FMAGs through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.
For more information on FMAGs, visit fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance.
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