FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant Program: Providing Rapid Funding to Combat Wildfires

Strategic Insights -

FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant program provides critical funding to communities fighting wildfires that threaten to cause a major disaster. These grants help ensure that responders have the resources they need to contain fires quickly and safely. States or territories can request a Fire Management Assistance declaration if the cost to fight a fire exceeds a certain threshold, and the declaration is approved by the FEMA regional administrator. The grant covers 75 percent of eligible costs, while the grant recipient pays the remaining 25 percent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Fire Management Assistance Grant program provides fast funding to help communities fight fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.
  • A Fire Management Assistance declaration can be approved if the cost to fight a fire exceeds a certain threshold and the threat of the fire is justified.
  • The grant can be used for equipment, supplies, and personnel to fight the fire, including expenses for field camps and meals, costs for mobilization and demobilization, and temporary repair of damage caused by firefighting activities.
  • The grant covers 75 percent of eligible costs, while the grant recipient pays the remaining 25 percent.
  • Fire Management Assistance Grants are different from FEMA's Public Assistance grants, covering fire suppression and emergency protective measures, while Public Assistance can cover permanent repairs.
  • The program has helped fund responses to several significant wildfires, including the 2021 Bootleg Fire in Oregon, the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado, and the 2018 Carr Fire in California.

Statistics:

  • The Bootleg Fire in Oregon burned more than 400,000 acres in 2021.
  • The Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado was the largest recorded wildfire in the state's history, with a Fire Management Assistance declaration approved to help cover costs for firefighting personnel and equipment.
  • The Carr Fire in California burned more than 229,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes in 2018.
  • FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant program provides up to 75 percent of eligible costs for fire suppression and emergency protective measures.
  • The program has a funding duration of up to 2 years, while Public Assistance can cover repairs for up to 8 years.

Sources:

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (n.d.). Fire Management Assistance Grants.
  • FEMA. (n.d.). Public Assistance Grants.
  • FEMA. (n.d.). Fire Management Assistance Declarations.
  • FEMA. (n.d.). Bootleg Fire in Oregon.
  • FEMA. (n.d.). Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado.
  • FEMA. (n.d.). Carr Fire in California.