Federal funds authorized to help fight Grassy Ridge Fire

UPDATE 8:30 p.m. The Grassy Ridge Fire is now 88% contained. According to the Interagency incident management team the Grassy Ridge Fire is completely lined and currently smoldering.

Crews will continue to monitor and secure the fire’s edge, and conduct mopups and suppression repair.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Grassy Ridge Fire.

FEMA Region 10 Administrator Mike O’Hare approved the state of Idaho’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Sunday afternoon.

This is the first FMAG approved in Idaho and the seventh approved by O’Hare for the 2018 fire season.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

In addition to reimbursement funding for fighting the Grassy Ridge Fire, under the FMAG declaration the state of Idaho will be eligible for an additional $425,008 in assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

There were nine other large fires burning uncontrolled within Idaho.

ORIGINAL:

The Interagency incident management team reports the lightning-caused Grassy Ridge Fire has grown to 103,935 acres or 162 square miles. It is burning in grass, sagebrush and scattered Pinion Juniper stands northeast of Dubois.

There are 191 firefighters working directly on the fire. It is 20 percent contained.

Overnight, about 150 people attended a public meeting in Dubois. Operations managers and Clark County Sheriff Bart May met with residents to answer questions and concerns.

Crews worked last night to complete fire and burning operations to support containment lines in the northwest section of the fire. They patrolled the lines until midnight, then a team of engines remained to make sure lines were holding.

Firefighters “cold-trailed,” or physically walked, containment lines to search for pockets of heat and put them out. They were working to ensure that no sparks can be fanned to life by the wind and tossed across containment lines to start a new fire.

Firefighters are not expecting favorable weather conditions Monday. The forecast is for hot weather and dry conditions. With low humidity, winds could be stronger than usual.

According to incident personnel, crews are focusing on protecting pockets of unburnt fuels that are portions of cattle allotments as well as habitat for Sage Grouse and winter forage and habitat for big game.

There are 15 engines, 5 dozers, 6 water tenders, 3 helicopters and 191 people on the fire Monday.

The Fremont County Emergency Management reports the Red Road is now open.

Officials ask you drive safely as there are many firefighters and apparatus working in the area.

You can view a map of the fire below.