FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Sandy Fire in Ventura County

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

On May 18, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Sandy Fire. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 7,461 homes in and around Simi Valley, CA. Mandatory evacuations had taken place for approximately 28,000 people. The fire began on May 18 and had already burned more than 836 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.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at x/femaregion9.