By Marcy Stamper
Okanogan County and Washington state are getting help from the federal government to pay firefighting costs and to combat blazes with planes, helicopters and National Guard troops.
The regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that the Okanogan Complex Fire threatened such destruction that it constituted a major disaster. He authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the fire on Aug. 15.
At the time of the request, there were eight fires in the county threatening homes, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources. The situation has worsened since then.
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington’s firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires in the county.
The grants do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the Okanogan Complex.
A separate request by Gov. Jay Inslee for a federal emergency declaration to provide additional resources to cover costs of firefighting and provide additional personnel was approved by President Obama on Aug. 21.
Obama’s approval means that the state will receive assistance in several areas — resources to ensure that transmitters and emergency-communications equipment remains operational, emergency power generation for critical local government facilities, and a team to assess and reduce the threat of erosion in burned areas.
Sixteen large fires are consuming nearly 400,000 acres across Eastern Washington, according to Inslee’s office. More than 100 homes had been destroyed and more than 5,000 homes were still threatened at the time of Inslee’s request last week.
A new mobilization center that will serve as a staging area for 20 fire engines and 10 water tankers was set up at Fairchild Air Force Base on Aug. 22 to assist with firefighting in Eastern Washington.
This past weekend, 700 members of the Washington National Guard were deployed across the state to help fire crews and support emergency personnel. National Guard Black Hawk helicopters are helping drop water on the fires.
Inslee had already declared a state of emergency on June 26 in anticipation of a damaging wildfire season.
