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(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 23, 2007 ) Oakland — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help California fight the Grass Valley Fire in San Bernardino County at 4:57 p.m. PDT Monday.By mid-afternoon, the fire had consumed 600 acres and threatened the communities of Green Valley, Running Springs, Arrow Bear, Twin Peaks and Crest Forest. State and local officials report that 500 personnel have been assigned to fight the fire, and that firefighters are operating in an area with high tree mortality that is near homes. It is reported that 123 homes have been lost and 1,800 homes are threatened. The cause of the fire is under investigation. "FEMA stands ready to support our state and local partners through this difficult situation,” said FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward. 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 is 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 assis-tance 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 ac-tivities. FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. RIX-NR-07-47 Contact: FEMA Public Affairs (510) 627-7079
Joseph Nchor
info@groupweb.com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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