President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for California to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires from Dec. 4, 2017 and continuing.

State officials requested a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the Rye Fire a month ago, which was approved the same day, according to FEMA officials.

At the time of request, the fire was threatening over 2,000 homes in and around the communities of Santa Clarita, Valencia, Fillmore and Piru, as well as three schools, one fire station, the L.A. County Fire Training Center, Six Flags Magic Mountain and an Edison Transmission Line, according to a news release.

With Trump’s declaration, “federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work due to wildfires in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,” according to a news release.

Related: Rye Fire Prompts FEMA Assistance From Federal Officials #RyeFire

Hazard assistance measures will also be funded across California, according to officials.

Approved public repair projects will be paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

“Assistance for state, tribal, and affected local governments can include as required:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.  Emergency protective measures assistance (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance, is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal, and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)”

William Roche has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

Additional designations may be made at a later date depending on the results of damage assessments, Roche said.

Recovery officials will announce locations in the affected areas to move forward with the application process for state, tribal, and local governments.

For more information, visit FEMA here.

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