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FEMA funds authorized to fight Karney Fire

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Karney Fire in Boise County. Boise County and the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security requested the assistance due to the fire conditions and the potential for its impact to the residences in the fire’s path.

The authorization approves FEMA funding availability to pay 75 percent of eligible fire suppression costs under an approved grant for fighting fires that have a high likelihood of causing damages to residences. Specifically the funding will assist in offsetting the costs of structure protection in the Robie Creek and Wilderness Ranch areas. Without the FEMA funding those extraordinary costs would have created a significant financial burden for Boise County.

The State of Idaho is currently under a State Disaster Declaration for wildland fires and has ten uncontrolled fires with 794,000 acres burned. The approved FEMA Fire Management Grant is the second approved in Idaho this year, with the Trinity Ridge Fire being the first.

The fire is threatening 100 residences (90 of which are primary residences) and has destroyed one residence within the Robie Creek Fire District. Eighty residences have been issued voluntary evacuation orders. An American Red Cross shelter is open at the Idaho City High School. The fire is within the boundaries of the Idaho Department of Lands Southwest Idaho Forest Protective District and is being fought with mutual aid from state, federal, and local resources.

Note to reporters: The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security is the State of Idaho's emergency management agency. Please note that Idaho BHS is an Idaho-specific agency, and should not be confused with the federal Department of Homeland Security. Within the State of Idaho organizational chart, Idaho BHS is aligned under the State of Idaho Military Division.