FEMA Provides Federal Funds to Help Fight Eagle Creek Fire

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September 5, 2017

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Eagle Creek Fire burning in Hood River and Multonomah counties in Oregon.

The FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Loper approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 4:30 a.m. PDT on September 3, 2017.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 286 homes in and around the areas of Cascade Locks, total population 1,144. Level 3  evacuations were issued for approximately 520 people and Level 2 evacuations were issued for an additional 624 people, who are at risk. Approximately 95 percent of the threatened homes are primary residences and 5 percent are secondary homes. The fire was also threatening electrical substations and power lines, a school, an airport, a fire station, a medical clinic, small businesses, recreational areas, a fish hatchery, streams, wildlife, and cultural resources in the area. The fire started on September 2, 2017, and had burned in excess of 3,000 acres of federal, state, and private land.  There were 18 other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state. The fire was zero percent contained at the time of FMAG approval.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs 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.

Photo of trees smoldering from a forest fire in Santa Fe National forest. Text overlay reads:

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