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Governor Issues State Declaration due to Wildfires

Governor C.L. ³Butch² Otter issued a state disaster declaration today to support firefighting efforts after Elmore County, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and the Great Basin Multi-Agency Command requested State of Idaho assistance in responding to fires across Idaho.

The state disaster declaration provides the means necessary for the IDL to utilize its agreement with the Idaho National Guard (IDNG) to provide support to fire incident management teams. The IDL is the State agency generally charged with responsibility for coordinating State actions regarding firefighting in the State of Idaho.

The Idaho Emergency Operations Center, housed at the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS), is activated and will be issuing mission assignments to the IDNG for their support to the fire events.

In addition, Elmore County has requested BHS pursue assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support protection of threatened communities near the Trinity Ridge Fire. With the fire moving toward residences and businesses, fire and county officials are seeking to have structure protection assets in place. The Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), if approved, would provide funding to offset those costs of protecting private property and businesses in the area.

³With the extreme conditions and current and expected fire activity, the Bureau of Homeland Security stands ready to assist and support firefighting efforts,² said BHS Director Col. Brad Richy. ³I would like to thank Governor Otter, the Department of Lands, and the Idaho National Guard as we work together to protect Idaho¹s people, property and resources.²