Railroad Fire in Madera County
Credit: CA. OES
September 3, 2017 - California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Mark Ghilarducci on Saturday secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the Railroad Fire burning in Madera and Mariposa Counties. The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.
The fire has already burned approximately 5,400 acres, threatening lives and property near the areas of Sugar Fine and Fish Camp near State Route 41. Cal OES is working with multiple response agencies to mobilize mutual aid strike teams and firefighters as well as fire engines, dozers, water tenders and fire retardant drops from aircraft. In addition to firefighting resources, shelter operations staff and emergency communications capabilities are also being mobilized.
More than 500 personnel have been mobilized to assist with the wildfire activity. Cal OES Fire, Law Enforcement and Inland Region personnel are currently working with other response agencies to address all emergency management, law enforcement, evacuation and mutual aid needs for the incident alongside the U.S. Forest Service. The recent sustained, high temperatures around the state and dry conditions have made an ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions throughout California.
The federal grant, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis, will assist local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75-percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.
Additional information is available at:
Fire Management Assistance Grants – http://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/recovery/public-assistance/fire-management-assistance-grant
Railroad Fire Information page – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5553/
Cal OES Twitter @Cal_OES
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services – http://www.caloes.ca.gov/
Source: CA. OES
