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(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 11, 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 Santa Catalina Island fire in Los Angeles County. “FEMA is committed to a timely response whenever the State of California requests our assistance,” said FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward. “We are coordinating available resources to help with the Catalina fire that is threatening the community of Avalon, the largest town on the Island.” The island fire has consumed 4,000 acres on Santa Catalina Island, 26 miles west of mainland California. More than 3,300 residents and vacationers have been evacuated from the island and about 1,700 individuals remain, awaiting evacuation via ferries and hovercraft. More than 300 firefighters are now battling the blaze and another 400 have been summoned to the island.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 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. 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. Contact: FEMA Public Affairs (510) 627-7006###This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.Com. For more information on press release distribution, go to http://www.emailwire.com.
FEMA Public Affairs
frank.mansell@dhs.gov 
Source: EmailWire.com
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