July 30, 2019 3:55 a.m.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Mile Post 97 Fire burning in Douglas County.
A FEMA release said that FEMA Region 10 Acting Deputy Administrator Vine Maykovich has determined that the fire threatened to cause such destruction that it would constitute a major disaster. Oregon’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved on Saturday night.
The fire started on July 24 and had burned just under 8,900 acres of federal, state, and tribal land at the time the state made the request. The fire was 5 percent contained at time and was threatening homes in and around Azalea, Canyonville and the Glendale Road Subdivision. Level 1 and Level 2 evacuations had been issued for residents near the affected communities.
The release said 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. Eligible costs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, repair and replacement, mobilization and demobilization activities and tools, materials, equipment and supplies.
The release said that in addition to reimbursement for fighting the fire, nearly $609,000 in assistance will be available to Oregon. The Disaster Recover Reform Act of 2018 authorizes FEMA to provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a declared area.