FEMA Authorizes Critical Funds to Fight Robertson Draw Fire Near Red Lodge, Tester Announces

Senator: “These funds will help protect Montanans’ homes and businesses threatened by this fire, and I am thankful for the first responders and firefighters who are on the frontlines battling this blaze.”

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist firefighting costs for the Robertson Draw Fire near Red Lodge.

“Fire season is upon us, and I am glad the brave firefighters on the ground responding to the Robertson Draw fire will have the full weight of the federal government behind them,” Tester said. “These funds will help protect Montanans’ homes and businesses threatened by this fire, and I am thankful for the first responders and firefighters who are on the frontlines battling this blaze.”

The Robertson Draw Fire has burned more than 21,000 acres, has threatened hundreds of homes and is zero percent contained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. It is a reimbursable program, and these grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

According to FEMA, Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

When there is an FMAG authorization, additional funding is made available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire for the mitigation of wildfire and related hazards, such as flood after fire or erosion. Some eligible wildfire project types include defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction, and hazardous fuels reduction.

For more information on FMAGs, visit https://www.fema.gov/fire-management-assistance-grants-program-details. For HMGP Post Fire, visit https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program-post-fire.