Cal OES Director Secures Fire Management Assistance Grant from FEMA to Assist Response Agencies Battling the Rye Fire in LA County

SACRAMENTO – California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci today secured a  Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress  the Rye Fire burning in Los Angeles County. The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs. 

Thus far, the fire has  burned approximately 5,000 acres, threatening areas near Rye Canyon near West Valencia. Structures are threatened and evacuations are underway.

Cal OES Fire and Southern Region personnel are currently responding in concert with other federal, state and local agencies to address emergency management and mutual aid needs for the incident. The recent sustained high winds have made ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions throughout the region. 

There is more than 650 firefighters from Cal Fire, LAFD, LA County FD and US Forest Service on scene working in Unified Command. Cal OES is assisting to mobilize mutual aid strike teams and firefighters that may include fire engines, dozers, water tenders and aircraft.

Cal OES Fire, Law Enforcement, and Southern Region personnel are currently working with other response agencies to address all emergency management, law enforcement, evacuation and mutual aid needs for the incident.  The Cal OES Southern Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC) has also been activated to support emergency management operations.

The federal Fire Management Assistance Grant, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis, will assist local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75-percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.

For More Information:

• Los Angeles County Fire PIO Twitter – https://twitter.com/LACoFDPIO
• Los Angeles County Fire Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LACoFD/
• Alert LA County – http://www.lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la/
• LA Office of Emergency Management – (323) 980-2260