Louisiana – FEMA announced the approval of a federal grant to help Beauregard Parish during a Unified Command Group meeting with the Louisiana Governor.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) have recently confirmed that FEMA has granted the state’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration.
This approval will provide significant support towards the fight against the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish, where homes, property, critical facilities, and infrastructure near Merryville and its surroundings are under a significant threat. The announcement was made during a Unified Command Group meeting held by Governor Edwards, where all responding agencies were present and continue to provide essential resources and assistance to all parishes impacted by the wildfires.
“I’m grateful to the federal government for quickly approving our request for this assistance that will help Beauregard Parish combat the wildfire there that has already destroyed thousands of acres of land,” said Gov. Edwards. “I have been in constant communication with all of our federal partners from FEMA to the USDA and the White House. The situation right now is very dangerous and unpredictable, and we need the public focused on following the state burn ban that remains in place until further notice. I am asking everyone to refrain from burning anything at this time. In addition, we have asked all state agencies to halt any control burns until conditions are safer. We cannot afford to have any more fires. While state resources are being made available, firefighters on the ground are being stretched to their limits. We are thankful for the hard work they are doing and should all do our part to prevent any more fires from happening.”
The FMAG program is a valuable resource for state and local governments seeking assistance with mitigating, managing, and controlling fires. Though FEMA’s Individual Assistance isn’t covered by the FMAG declaration, aid in the form of personnel, assets, technical support, and federal funding can be provided to aid firefighting efforts. This aid can cover up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs associated with fires in Beauregard Parish.