FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Norte Fire in Orange County

OAKLAND, Calif. - The FEMA Region 9 Regional Administrator has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of California in combating the Norte Fire burning in Orange County.

On October 16, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Norte Fire. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 4,000 homes in and around San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. The fire began on October 16 and had already burned more than 465 acres at the time of the request.

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.