As Montana’s largest wildfire exceeds 30,000 acres, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the state secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with costs associated with fighting the Sand Creek Fire.
The blaze, which started Aug. 1 in Beaverhead County, is only 1% contained, according to Monday’s reports from fire crews. It burned through parts of Maverick Mountain Ski Area and has prompted evacuation orders in the region surrounding Elkhorn Hot Springs.
The federal assistance from FEMA is through a Fire Management Assistance Grant, which provides funding for up to 75% of a state’s eligible firefighting costs. Those include materials and supplies, mobilization and demobilization, equipment use and other expenses.
“The state of Montana has been in constant contact with the U.S. Forest Service since the Sand Creek Fire first began,” Gianforte said in a press release. “We’re asking all Montanans to follow all necessary precautions and take the evacuation warnings and orders from local law enforcement seriously.”
The governor asked the public to stay updated on restrictions at mtfireinfo.org as Montana enters “the core of fire season” and firefighters and law enforcement work to protect communities.
The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the state Disaster and Emergencies Services submitted the funding request to FEMA.
Firefighters are continuing to prioritize structure protection and have prevented loss, with the only confirmed impact being to the Maverick Mountain upper lift shack and the Maverick Mountain U.S. Forest Service repeater, according to the Governor’s Office. Emergency evacuation orders are in place for all communities north of Clark Creek and Shale Creek, including Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain.
Originally published on dailymontanan.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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