31 Aug 2009

FEMA has approved the use of federal funds to help California fight fires
Increased funding will improve state's firefighting resources

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of California fight the PV Fire in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time the Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved, the PV fire had burned 75 acres and was uncontained. Three residences were damaged and 300 more were threatened.

"FEMA is here to make sure that California has the resources needed to fight this fire, and that the federal government will remain with the state every step of the way," said FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward.