Fire Management Assistance Grants: Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288) authorizes the President to “declare” a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). This authority has been delegated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Regional Administrators. Once issued, the FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance such as the provision of equipment, personnel, and grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forest land or grassland that might become a major disaster.

The current FMAG system was established by regulation in October of 2001. Prior to that time, the program was known as the Fire Suppression Assistance Program. However, the program was administered in similar fashion with the FEMA Regional Administrators working with the requesting state and the “Principal Advisor,” as well as consulting with FEMA leadership prior to the announcement of Stafford Act assistance under Section 420.

This report answers frequently asked questions about FMAGs. This report will be updated as events warrant.