THOMPSON, GARAMENDI ANNOUNCE FEMA GRANT FOR ROCKY FIRE

August 6, 2015
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and John Garamendi (CA-3) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the State of California's request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration for the Rocky Fire burning in Lake, Yolo and Colusa Counties. The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP) allows for the "mitigation, management, and control" of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.

"The Rocky Fire is a major disaster and all levels of government must respond," said Thompson. "These federal funds will help our first responders contain and eliminate the fire, and they will help our communities recover from the damage it has caused. I commend FEMA for their assistance, CAL FIRE for their brave and extraordinary work, and our local communities for their support and partnership. Together we will recover from this disaster."

"Due to California's unprecedented drought conditions, the Rocky Fire has been especially unpredictable and dangerous. I thank FEMA for their intervention with needed resources to help communities respond to the lasting damage caused by this fire," Garamendi said. "California faces an extremely dangerous fire season, and we will continue to need active federal support to prevent bad situations from becoming unspeakable tragedies. We will also be vulnerable this winter when El Nino likely brings flooding and mudslides. I'm so grateful to the emergency responders who are selflessly doing all they can to save homes, lives, and habitats."

The Rocky Fire is burning in Lake, Yolo & Colusa Counties. 68,300 acres have been burned. The fire is 20 percent contained. Nearly 7,000 structures are threatened by the fire. Evacuation Centers are located at Middletown High School and Kelseyville High School. More than 13,000 people have been evacuated.

The grant will cover 75 percent of the costs for various fire suppression, safety and recovery needs. Eligible costs include:

  • Costs for equipment and supplies
  • Costs for emergency work such as evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control, arson investigation);
  • Costs for State emergency operations center
  • Costs for the pre-positioning of Federal, out-of-State, and international resources for up to 21 days
  • Cost of personal comfort and safety items for firefighter health and safety
  • Costs for field camps and meals
  • Costs for mobilization and demobilization costs
  • Costs for the temporary repair of damage cause by firefighting activities
  • Costs for the mitigation, management, and control of declared fires burning on co-mingled Federal land, when such costs are not reimbursable by another Federal agency.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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