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 Cranston Fire burning in Riverside County. The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.
The fire has burned approximately 2,400 acres and threatening structures and critical infrastructure near the communities of Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Mountain Center and Mt. Baldy. There are currently mandatory evacuations and road closures in place. Cal OES, in working with CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service, has mobilized multiple immediate need fire strike teams and firefighters including aircraft, fire engines, dozers and water tenders.
Cal OES Fire and Southern Region personnel are currently working with other response agencies to address all emergency management, evacuation and mutual aid needs for the incident. The recent sustained, high temperatures around the state and historic statewide drought have made an ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions throughout California.
The federal 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.
- Fire Management Assistance Grants – http://bit.ly/10v6hjJ
- Cranston Fire Incident Information page – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6032/
- Cal OES Twitter @Cal_OES
- Governor’s Office of Emergency Services – https://www.caloes.ca.gov/