FEMA Supporting Washington’s State-Led Wildfire Response

FEMA Support Underway

At the state's request under the federal emergency declaration, FEMA is providing resources and expertise to strengthen Washington's ongoing wildfire response efforts, including:

• Preparing base camps for state firefighters. FEMA is working with the state and other partners to build and operate temporary wildland fire base camps for up to 2,000 firefighters battling blazes in Washington. Sites will include essential services for firefighters to eat, shower, sleep, do laundry, and get medical aid.
• Planning for hazardous household materials cleanup. FEMA is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the state to prepare for the safe removal of hazardous materials from homes and neighborhoods damaged by the wildfires when authorized.
• Positioning federal staging areas with critical supplies. FEMA has pre-positioned emergency supplies and equipment, including meals, water, blankets, medical supplies and equipment, newborn and toddler kits, and generators, so they are ready if requested by the state.
• Supporting shelter and survivor services. FEMA is working alongside the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to support the state's efforts to provide shelter, meals and other essential services for people displaced by the wildfires, while helping plan for longer-term temporary housing options.
• Gathering aerial imagery of wildfire damage to support assessments. FEMA is working with the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, to collect aerial imagery in communities affected by the Modrite, Kaiser Canyon and Sinlahekin fires in eastern Washington. This imagery helps inform response planning and recovery assessments.

• Continued coordination of Federal resources and assistance. FEMA's Regional Response Coordination Center has been activated since Sunday, Aug. 2, with more than 100 FEMA personnel and over a dozen other federal agencies supporting response operations. A FEMA team with expertise in incident management has been embedded in the State Emergency Operations Center to enhance coordination and situational awareness.

  Emergency Declaration

A federal emergency declaration enables FEMA to directly support the state's ongoing response to wildfires. In addition to FEMA's current support, the state may also request assistance with sheltering and feeding; emergency route clearance; search and rescue; emergency temporary power restoration; and emergency communication support for first responders. The declaration does not include financial assistance or reimbursements to individuals, families, local jurisdictions, tribes, or state entities.

Fire Management Assistance Grants

Between June 16 and Aug. 1, FEMA approved nine Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations for Washington to help with firefighting costs. Three FMAGs were approved Saturday, Aug. 1, for fires burning in Spokane County: Autumn Lane, Fairview and Old Trails. FMAGs for Washington include:

• Autumn Lane Fire (Stevens and Spokane counties)
• Fairview Fire (Spokane County)
• Old Trails Fire (Spokane County)
• Sinlahekin Fire (Okanogan County)
• Modrite Fire (Ferry County and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation)
• Signal Peak Fire (Yakima County and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation)
• Ransier Fire (Yakima County and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation)
• Kaiser Canyon Fire (Okanogan County and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation)
• Upriver Fire (Spokane County)

An FMAG declaration reimburses the state for 75% of eligible firefighting costs to help keep a wildfire from becoming a larger disaster.

Supporting Tribal Nations

In addition to FEMA's support to the state of Washington, FEMA is working closely with several Tribal Nations that have requested preliminary damage assessments to better understand wildfire impacts to tribal lands and infrastructure and determine whether additional federal assistance may be available.

Contact Us

• News Desk at (425) 487-4610 or [email protected]
• Congressional Affairs at [email protected]
• Intergovernmental Affairs at [email protected]
• Tribal Affairs at [email protected]

• Private Sector at [email protected]

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FEMA Mission

Helping people before, during, and after disasters.