Governor Newsom Secures Federal Aid as Park Fire Rages, Forcing 3,500 to Evacuate

SACRAMENTO – In a swift response to the rapidly spreading Park Fire, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bolster efforts to combat the blaze in Butte County.

The Park Fire, raging near the city of Chico, has already scorched over 45,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 3,500 residents. For real-time updates, including road closures, evacuation maps, and centers, visit fire.ca.gov.

The FMAG, funded through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on a cost-share basis, will enable local, state, and tribal agencies responding to the fire to receive 75-percent reimbursement for eligible fire suppression costs. The grant, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), provides rapid financial assistance to communities affected by wildfires.

This wildfire season, California has already secured FMAGs for the Thompson, French, and Hawarden fires, which collectively burned nearly 5,000 acres.