Oakland, CA…The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combating the SQF Complex burning in Tulare County. On Sept. 13, 2020, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the SQF Complex. At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 1,900 homes in the communities of Sequoia Crest, Camp Nelson, Springville, and Ponderosa. The fire also threatened a power plant, an above-ground power distribution center, commercial timber resources, the Mountain Home State Demonstration Forest, and timber and grazing lands for the Thule Indian Reservation.

The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Sept. 13, 2020, as the fire 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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