FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Tartar Fire in Idaho

BOTHELL, Wash. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Tartar Fire burning in Washington County, Idaho.

The state of Idaho's request for a declaration under FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Regional Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Sunday, Aug. 2, at 5:51 a.m. PT. He determined that the Tartar Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the first FMAG declaration in 2026 to help fight Idaho wildfires.

At the time of the state's request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the community of Weiser. The fire also threatened water and power utility infrastructure, the Weiser School District, and local businesses.

FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state's eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire. 

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