Today, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) secured two Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These grants help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the SQF Complex burning in Tulare County and the Bobcat Fire in Los Angeles County.
The SQF Complex is threatening approximately 1,900 homes near the communities of Sequoia Crest, Camp Nelson, Springville, and Ponderosa. The fire is also threatening critical infrastructure. At last report, the fire was 12% contained with high temperature and low humidity in the forecast. The fire has burned more than 75,000 acres.
The Bobcat Fire is threatening approximately 28,000 homes near the communities of Arcadia, Altadena, Azusa, Duarte, Flint Ridge, Monrovia, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. The fire is also threatening critical infrastructure. At last report, the fire was 6% contained and weather conditions that are conducive for continued fire spread are in the forecast. The fire has burned more than 32,000 acres.
Cal OES Fire and Rescue and Regional emergency personnel are currently responding in concert with other federal, state and local agencies to address emergency management and mutual aid needs for the incident. The recent heat and winds have made ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions across the state, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Red Flag Warnings for multiple areas of Northern California.
The federal Fire Management Assistance 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.