FEMA Money Authorized for Okla. Fire

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help Oklahoma fight the Antioch Fire burning in Garvin County.

R. David Paulison, acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the state’s request for federal fire management assistance was approved after it was confirmed that the fire had burned an estimated 7,000 acres and poses a threat to approximately 100 homes in the community of Elmore City.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided.

Eligible costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.