DENVER – This afternoon FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Deer Creek Fire burning in San Juan County, Utah about 30 miles southeast of Moab. The fire started July 10, 2025 and has burned more than 7500 acres of state and private land; it is 0-percent contained. There are also three other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state of Utah.
Acting FEMA Region 8 Administrator Katherine Fox approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) after receiving the request this afternoon and determining that the fire threatened such destruction that it would constitute a major disaster.
At the time of the request, the Deer Creek Fire had destroyed ten homes and was threatening another 140 primary homes and an additional 600 structures. The fire is also threatening power lines, transformers and multiple watersheds. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for approximately 400 people.
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.
For more information on FMAGs, visit https://www.fema.gov/fire-management-assistance-grants-program-details.