Federal Funds Issued To Help Pay Wildfire Costs

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that $6.1 million in federal funds have been authorized to reimburse local and state costs incurred while fighting numerous wildfires in southeast Georgia this spring.

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notified the Governor this morning that it provided the funds to reimburse Georgia in its fight against the Sweat Farm Road wildfire.

“I appreciate FEMA’s response to our request for financial assistance,” Governor Perdue said. “We took many necessary steps to protect our citizens and the natural resources within southeast Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp during this intense and costly two and a half month fire fight. Now, it is reassuring to be able to begin the reimbursement process.”

FEMA made $6,127,168.50 available to Georgia today following Governor Perdue’s mid-April request for assistance to help Georgia fight the then-uncontrolled wildfire burning in Ware County. FEMA approved the first of five Fire Management Assistance Grants for the state on April 17.

The state's request for federal fire suppression aid was approved by FEMA for five fire complexes that destroyed 21 structures and threatened communities throughout the southeast portion of the state before they consumed more than 600,000 acres in southeast Georgia and northern Florida.

The spring 2007 wildfires were the largest in Georgia's history. Officials estimated the total cost of the firefighting response to be approximately $40 million of which today's announcement represents the first payment.

Under the authorization, FEMA agreed to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs.

Federal fire suppression aid is provided through the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act's Fire Management Assistance Grant program and is made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires when they threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered can include expenses for emergency equipment, supplies, operations centers, firefighter safety items, mobilization costs and other firefighting needs.