OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of California to combat the Ranch Fire burning in Mendocino and Lake Counties. The state has requested that the River and Ranch Fires be combined under one grant for what will be called the Mendocino Complex Fire.
On July 29, 2018, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the Ranch Fire. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 1,450 homes in and around the community of Upper Lake. The fire was also threatening 20 buildings, infrastructure, utilities, and watershed. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 11,900 people.
The fire started on July 29, 2018, and has burned in excess of 13,395 acres of state and private land. The fire is 5% percent contained. There are six other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state.
The FEMA Regional Administrator determined the River Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. The state’s request was approved on July 29, 2018, at 10:17 PM PDT.
Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding 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.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region IX online www.twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at https://www.fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.
