FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Utah’s Cherry Fire

DENVER - This afternoon, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Cherry Fire burning near Eureka in Juab County, Utah, about 40 miles southwest of Provo.

FEMA Region 8 Deputy Regional Administrator (acting), Zachary Lamb, approved the state's request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) after receiving the request this afternoon and determining that the fire threatened such destruction that it would constitute a major disaster.

At the time of the request, the Cherry Fire had burned more than 30,000 acres with 0% containment, and had merged with the Iron Fire, burning since last Saturday. The Cherry Fire was threatening nearly 700 people, 400 homes, and a major watershed, and resulted in a power outage affecting 10,000 people.

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. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and are made available through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

For more information on FMAGs, visit https://www.fema.gov/fire-management-assistance-grants-program-details.