FEMA has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to Florida to fight the Bertha Swamp Road Wildfire burning in Calhoun County.
Previously, FEMA approved funding to fight the Bertha Swamp Road Wildfire in Bay County. On March 8, the state requested to add Calhoun and Gulf counties to the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). The blaze started March 4, threatening more than 5,000 homes, and has burned more than 33,000 acres of state and private land.
Additional funding
On March 8, FEMA Region 4 Administrator Gracia B. Szczech approved the state’s request to add Calhoun County to the existing FMAG. The regional administrator determined the threat to Gulf County would not constitute a major disaster eligible for funding.
FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. 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.