Federal FEMA Relief Funds Coming for 3 Big WA State, Spokane-Area Fires

Due to threats to infrastructure besides homes and businesses, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Emergency funds have been approved for 3 large WA State fires.

  FEMA Funds Approved Include Spokane

Over the weekend the funding was approved for the Sinlahekin Fire burning in Okanogan County, the Fairview Fire,, and the Autumn Lane Fire burning in Spokane County.

The Sinlahekin Blaze has consumed over 73,000 acres in Okanogan County, near Tonasket. It also threatened state-owned dams, a wastewater treatment plant, raw water reservoirs, finished water systems, and microwave sites, as well as the Washington State University radio infrastructure and the Tonasket Police Department headquarters.

 Fairview Fire Threatened Key Power Lines

The Fairview Fire has consumed over 990 acres  north of Spokane, and according to FEMA Officials,  The Fairview Fire threatened private utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration power lines, railway, and farms.

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And the Autumn Fire in the Spokane area has torched over 3,300 acres and was responsible for hundreds of structures being consumed. According to FEMA  the Autumn Lane Fire threatened utilities, state and local parks, schools, a ranger station, fire district buildings, county microwave transmitters, a bridge, water district structures, grocery stores, and family care centers.

The is coming in the form of FAMG, or Fire Assistance Management Grants, to help battle the blazes.  According to FEMA:

"FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters."

As of late Sunday, overall, the Spokane area blazes destroyed at least 700 structures.