Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of California in combatting the Getty Fire burning in Los Angeles County.
On Oct. 28, 2019, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Getty Fire. At the time of the request, the fire threatened 5,000 homes in and around the Los Angeles communities of Bel Air, Brentwood, Mandeville, Crestwood Hills, and Westgate, with a combined population of approximately 20,000. The fire also threatened the UCLA campus, a section of Highway 405, multiple schools, and utility transmission lines. Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 3,300 people.
The fire started on Oct. 28, 2019 and has burned in excess of 400 acres of state and private land. There are seven other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state.
The FEMA Region IX regional administrator determined that the Getty Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. The state’s request was approved on Oct. 28, 2019 at 6:46 a.m. PDT.
FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding 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.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region IX online at twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.