FEMA has awarded $4.1 million to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to cover the costs of fighting the Dollar Ridge wildfire that impacted north-central Utah in July of 2018. The funds are provided by FEMA’s Public Assistance program under a Fire Management Assistance declaration for Utah issued on July 2, 2018, in response to the wildfire.
The Dollar Ridge wildfire began south of Fruitland on July 1, 2018. The fire burned over 68,000 acres of private, state, and federal land, destroying 74 homes and damaging six others, and prompting the evacuation of approximately 300 residents.
Dollar Ridge wildfire
In addition, the fire threatened several hundred gas and oil wells and the Strawberry River watershed. The FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Dollar Ridge wildfire reimburses the state for costs incurred to fight the wildfire including the cost of firefighters from 13 fire departments and the Utah National Guard, as well as state employees and contractors, communications, firefighting equipment, and air operations.
The FEMA grants represent the 75 percent federal cost share made available under the Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration.