FEMA Authorizes Funds To Fight Tuscola, Texas Fire

March 6, 2009 -- DENTON, TEXAS -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help fight the Tuscola Fire following a request for a fire management assistance declaration from the State of Texas on Thursday.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 350 homes in and around the communities of Tuscola and Potosi, in Taylor County. The fire threatened buildings, infrastructure, and utilities in the area. Voluntary evacuations were issued for twenty people, two homes burned, and US highways 83 and 84 were closed due to the fire. The fire started on Thursday and had burned in excess of 150 acres of private land.

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The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of state, local and tribal government eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. 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.

Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided. Eligible 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.

Source: FEMA