Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has obtained a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This grant is intended to provide crucial resources for combating the Hurst Fire, which is currently affecting Los Angeles County amid severe fire conditions in Southern California.
“We are working vigorously to ensure maximum support for firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, including the Hurst Fire, which is now threatening San Fernando and Newhall. Thank you to all our firefighting personnel and first responders protecting Californians in harm’s way,” stated Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Hurst Fire ignited at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday near Diamond Road in Sylmar and has since burned over 500 acres. The blaze has led to evacuation orders impacting more than 44,000 individuals, with warnings issued for an additional 27,000 people as approximately 40,000 structures are under threat.
The FMAG will aid local, state, and tribal agencies by offering a 75 percent reimbursement for eligible fire suppression expenses through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on a cost-share basis. Governor Newsom also recently secured FMAGs for the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Since Sunday, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has approved prepositioning of 65 fire engines along with over 120 additional firefighting resources and personnel across multiple counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. CAL FIRE has also allocated extra resources such as 45 engines and six hand crews to these regions.
Residents are encouraged to stay alert and heed instructions from local authorities as extreme fire weather persists through Thursday. Preparedness tips can be found at ready.ca.gov.
