Federal funds awarded to help with fire fighting costs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for three fires burning in central Washington, including the Grass Valley Fire in Douglas and Grant counties near Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam.

Early Sunday morning, FEMA granted the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grants to help with firefighting costs for the Grass Valley Fire burning in Douglas and Grant counties. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening homes in and around the communities of Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Electric City. The fire was also threatening power utilities and resources as well as multiple roads and bridges that provide access to the communities. The fire that started Saturday had burned in excess of 60,000 acres of federal and private land. Mandatory evacuations had been issued.

The funds can be used for expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and for tools, materials and supplies.

Requests for FMAG funds were also granted for the Hawk Fire in Yakima County and the Yakama Nation, and the Cougar Creek Fire in Chelan County.

FEMA Region 10 Administrator Mike O’Hare determined that each of the fires threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster, and approved the state of Washington’s separate requests for FMAGs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Hawk Fire started on Friday and had burned in excess of 1,500 acres of tribal lands under the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation Fire and Yakima County Fire District 5. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 175 homes in and around the community of White Swan, as well as an area high school, Yakama Nation power utilities and health clinic, multiple roads and bridges, and Yakama Nation cultural resources. Mandatory evacuations were issued for residents in the area.

The Cougar Creek Fire in Chelan County started July 28 but had spread by Saturday as a result of gusting winds, threatening homes in and around the communities of Ardenvoir, Plain and Entiat. Also threatened at the time of the state’s request were Chelan Public Utility District power lines, Chelan Public Works Staging Station and multiple roads. Mandatory evacuations had been issued.