FEMA approves federal funding to assist with firefighting costs for Golden Fire

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — On Monday, July 21, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved of funds to help with firefighting costs for the Golden Fire burning in Klamath County.

SEE ALSO | Oregon State Fire Marshal deploys task forces to combat Golden Fire in Klamath County

The state of Oregon made a federal request for funds from the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the state's request, the Golden Fire threatened homes in and around the communities of Bly Mountain, Beatty, Bonanza, and Dairy. The fire also threatened Hwy. 140 and Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines.

The request for funds was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, July 23. Nunn determined that the Golden Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would a major disaster.

FMAGs 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. This authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75% 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.

In addition to the firefighting funds authorized under this FMAG, another $918,774 will be available to Oregon through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire for the mitigation of future wildfires and related hazards, such as flood after fire or erosion.