Representatives Young Kim and Lou Correa have addressed a letter to Nancy Ward, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), urging for retroactive grant support following last year’s Airport Fire in Orange County. The initial request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was denied, impacting local residents and emergency response capabilities.
The FMAG request was reportedly placed “on hold” due to an assessment that there was insufficient threat level and lack of residential impact. However, this decision contrasts with reports from first responders about the aggressive behavior of the fire and widespread evacuations.
“We are concerned that the denial of this FMAG request reflects a misjudgment of the situation’s urgency and impact,” Representatives Kim and Correa stated. They highlighted that Riverside County received their FMAG declaration on September 11 despite experiencing less structural loss compared to Orange County.
Both the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department have made multiple revised submissions to Cal OES without success. These attempts included follow-ups presenting evidence of the fire’s severity and its financial toll on local agencies.
“We respectfully request that Cal OES reconsider and approve the FMAG request retroactively,” they added, emphasizing the necessity for federal assistance to mitigate disaster effects and support local emergency services.
The full text of their letter is available for reading online.
