ARCHULETA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) – FEMA announced it authorized the use of federal funds on Monday afternoon to aid firefighting costs for the Oak Fire in Archuleta County.
The Oak Fire, which is west of Pagosa Springs, has threatened around 5,100 buildings and 2,000 homes. The fire started Sunday and has burned about 150 acres.
FEMA Region 8 approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant as the wildfire threatened destruction that would result in a major disaster, according to the news release.
“The Oak Fire is the third Fire Management Assistance Grant FEMA has approved in Colorado in the last several days. FEMA stands by to offer continued support to the State of Colorado to ensure federal resources are available for firefighting efforts,” FEMA Region 8 Acting Administrator Katherine Fox said.
FEMA funding is available to pay 75% of the state’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. The grant doesn’t help with individual homes or business owners and does not cover other infrastructure damaged caused by a blaze.
Eligible items include expenses for field camps, equipment use, repair and replacement, mobilization and demobilization activities, tools, materials and supplies, the news release read.
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