State asks for FEMA assistance for Bear Fire and receives it

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combating the Bear Fire burning in Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties.

Today, the state submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Bear Fire. At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 2,000 homes in and around Oroville, Feather Falls, Forbestown, Clipper Mills, LaPorte, Little Grass Valley, Cascade, Strawberry Valley and Rackerby. The fire also threatened the Oroville Dam and associated power lines, multiple fire stations and schools, radio and emergency communications towers, and the Plumas National Forest.

The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Sept. 9, 2020, as the fire threatened to become a major incident.

FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides allowances for FMAGs through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause 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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