FEMA Quickly Approves Federal Funds For California's Hollow Fire

Release Date: July 15, 2004 Release number: R9-04-045

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today made federal funds available to help fight California’s Hollow fire burning southeast of the city of Placerville in El Dorado County.

Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, approved the latest request for federal fire management assistance for the Hollow fire at 7:33 p.m. EDT. The request, the fourth one approved this week, was made by the state at 5:35 p.m. EDT.

The 30-acre Hollow fire started earlier today on the outskirts of Placerville where 250 people voluntarily evacuated. The fire threatened more than 100 homes, 20 businesses and communication towers. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. The assistance pays 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting and emergency response costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.