FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Kawaihae Fire in Hawai'i County

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of Hawaii in combating the Kawaihae Road Fire burning in Hawai'i County.

On July 26, the State of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Kawaihae Road Fire. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 253 homes in and around Kawaihae and Spencer Beach. Mandatory evacuations had taken place for approximately 800 people. The fire began on July 25 and had already burned more than 700 acres.

FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. FMAGs are approved through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to become major disasters.

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. For more information on FMAGs, visit fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance.