President declares wildfire emergency in Washington state
August 21, 2015 |05:12 PM
President Barack Obama today declared an emergency exists in the state of Washington and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the areas affected by wildfires,effective August 13 and continuing.
The president’s action authorizes the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, to protect property and public safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.
Covered by the declaration are Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Klickitat, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation.
The declaration authorizes FEMA to identify, mobilize, and provide equipment and resources to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
On Thursday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack mourned the death of three U.S. Forest Service firefighters this week and said that the government is spending more than $150 million per week on fire suppression.
Vilsack said that “well over 26,000 firefighters and support personnel from federal, state and local agencies are deployed, along with 28 next generation and legacy air tankers, and additional aviation assets.”
“We are now working with the U.S. military and foreign partners, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to bring in additional resources,” he added.
The president’s action authorizes the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, to protect property and public safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.
Covered by the declaration are Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Klickitat, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation.
The declaration authorizes FEMA to identify, mobilize, and provide equipment and resources to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
On Thursday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack mourned the death of three U.S. Forest Service firefighters this week and said that the government is spending more than $150 million per week on fire suppression.
Vilsack said that “well over 26,000 firefighters and support personnel from federal, state and local agencies are deployed, along with 28 next generation and legacy air tankers, and additional aviation assets.”
“We are now working with the U.S. military and foreign partners, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to bring in additional resources,” he added.
