Joe Brenckle – 202-226-8273

Renzi Announces Emergency Fire Grant for Sedona
Federal Funds Will Specifically Assist Sedona and Red Rock Fire District

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) today announced an emergency fire grant from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA for the Brins Fire burning near Sedona. The grant will allow fire officials to accumulate an emergency expense account that will be reimbursed by the federal government as a 75 percent cost share agreement until the fire is under control. Renzi said the grant will cover the cost of emergency equipment, supplies, operations centers, firefighter safety items, mobilization costs and other firefighting needs.  The Brins Fire began on Sunday, June 18, 2006 in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness about one mile north of Sedona. It has burned more than 3000 acres and 450 homes and businesses have been evacuated.  Currently there are more than 200 people on scene as part of three fire crews, 4 air tankers, 4 helicopters, 21 engines and three water tenders.

FEMA’s Fire Management Assistant Grant Program allows for the “mitigation, management, and control” of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest  lands which would constitute a major disaster and will specifically cover costs for equipment and supplies, emergency work (evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control, arson investigation); State emergency operations center (when used as a Unified Command Center); the pre-positioning of Federal, out-of State, and international resources for up to 21 days; personal comfort and safety items for firefighter health and safety; field camps and meals in lieu of per diem; mobilization and demobilization costs;  temporary repair of damage caused by firefighting activities.

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