FEMA APPROVES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR 2 MORE MONTANA FIRES

HELENA, MT — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved disaster assistance for two wildfires on northwestern Montana.

FEMA funding is available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires in Lincoln and Sanders counties that are threatening 925 homes and businesses in and around Plains along with 45 homes and businesses southeast of Libby.

The state’s applications, filed Sunday, said the fires also are threatening the power and telephone transmission lines, cell phone towers, a gas pipeline, highway bridges, and watersheds.

The two fires started during a lightning storm on Aug. 30 and have combined to burn 45 square miles (117 square kilometers.)

The state applied for fire management assistance grants for fires near Seeley Lake, Augusta, and Libby on Saturday and received word Sunday that they were eligible for federal assistance.