FEMA Fire Grant Declaration Backed for Hawaii Fire

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved a request by the Governor of Hawaii to issue a fire grant declaration for the Lalamilo Fire, burning on the island of Hawaii, near Waikoloa Village.

Michael Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said Hawaii’s request for federal fire management assistance was approved after it was confirmed that the fire had threatened the town of Waikoloa Village. The fire, which started Aug. 1, had consumed more than 1,600 acres at the time of the request.

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.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided.

Eligible costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.