FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM (FMAGP) GUIDE

JUNE

2010

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u    HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717422"  ACRONYMS	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717422 \h  iii  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717423"  DEFINITIONS	  PAGEREF _Toc271717423 \h 
iv  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717424"  FOREWORD	  PAGEREF _Toc271717424 \h  vii
 

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717425"  CHAPTER ONE	  PAGEREF _Toc271717425 \h 
8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717426"  OVERVIEW	  PAGEREF _Toc271717426 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717427"  Governing Documents	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717427 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717428"  Federal Statutes.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717428 \h  8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717429"  Regulations.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717429 \h 
8  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717430"  Policies.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717430 \h  9 


  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717431"  DECLARATION PROCESS	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717431 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717432"  Submitting a Declaration Request	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717432 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717433"  Declaration Request Processing	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717433 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717434"  Information for the Declaration Request	
 PAGEREF _Toc271717434 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717435"  Required Information.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717435 \h  10  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717436"  Fire Complex.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717436 \h
 11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717437"  Incident Period.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717437
\h  11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717438"  Duties, Roles, and Responsibilities	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717438 \h  11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717439"  State Role.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717439 \h 
11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717440"  FEMA Regional Office Role.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717440 \h  11  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717441"  Principal Advisor’s Role.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717441 \h  12  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717442"  Headquarters Office Role.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717442 \h  13  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717443"  Appeal of Denied Declaration Request	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717443 \h  13  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717444"  Post-Declaration Requirements	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717444 \h  13  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717445"  FEMA-State Agreement	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717445 \h  14  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717446"  Modifying a Declaration Request to Add
Counties	  PAGEREF _Toc271717446 \h  15  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717447"  CHAPTER THREE	  PAGEREF _Toc271717447 \h
 16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717448"  ELIGIBILITY	  PAGEREF _Toc271717448 \h 
16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717449"  Grant and Subgrant Applicants	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717449 \h  16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717450"  Eligible Applicants	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717450 \h  16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717451"  Ineligible Applicants	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717451 \h  16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717452"  Eligible Costs	  PAGEREF _Toc271717452
\h  16  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717453"  Equipment and Supplies	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717453 \h  17  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717454"  Labor Costs.	  PAGEREF _Toc271717454 \h 
17  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717455"  Travel and Per Diem	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717455 \h  18  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717456"  Pre-Positioning Costs	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717456 \h  18  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717457"  Emergency Work/Essential Assistance	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717457 \h  19  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717458"  Temporary Repairs	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717458 \h  19  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717459"  Mobilization and Demobilization	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717459 \h  20  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717460"  Donated Resources	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717460 \h  20  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717461"  Ineligible Costs	  PAGEREF _Toc271717461
\h  20  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717462"  CHAPTER FOUR	  PAGEREF _Toc271717462 \h 
21  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717463"  MUTUAL AID	  PAGEREF _Toc271717463 \h 
21  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717464"  Mutual Aid Agreements	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717464 \h  21  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717465"  Emergency Management Assistance Compact
(EMAC)	  PAGEREF _Toc271717465 \h  21  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717466"  CHAPTER FIVE	  PAGEREF _Toc271717466 \h 
22  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717467"  GRANT MANAGEMENT	  PAGEREF _Toc271717467
\h  22  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717468"  Grant Application File	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717468 \h  22  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717469"  Initial Grant Application and Approval
Timeframe	  PAGEREF _Toc271717469 \h  22  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717470"  Fire Cost Threshold	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717470 \h  23  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717471"  State Administrative Plan	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717471 \h  23  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717472"  State Mitigation Plan.	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717472 \h  24  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717473"  Grantee Responsibilities	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717473 \h  24  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717474"  Subgrants	  PAGEREF _Toc271717474 \h  25
 

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717475"  Eligible Subgrant Entities	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717475 \h  25  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717476"  Subgrant Application Request	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717476 \h  25  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717477"  Project Worksheets	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717477 \h  25  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717478"  Cost Share  (44 CFR 204.61)	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717478 \h  25  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717479"  Duplication of Benefits	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717479 \h  26  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717480"  Negligence and Intentional Acts	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717480 \h  26  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717481"  Administrative Costs	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717481 \h  27  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717482"  Grantee	  PAGEREF _Toc271717482 \h  27  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717483"  Subgrantee	  PAGEREF _Toc271717483 \h 
27  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717484"  Appeals of Grant Eligibility	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717484 \h  28  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717485"  Grant Closeouts	  PAGEREF _Toc271717485
\h  28  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717486"  Audit Requirements and Documentation	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717486 \h  29  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717487"  CHAPTER SIX	  PAGEREF _Toc271717487 \h 
31  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717488"  SUPPLEMENTRY INFORMATION	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717488 \h  31  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717489"  Forms	  PAGEREF _Toc271717489 \h  31  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717490"  Ascending Order by Form Name	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717490 \h  31  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717491"  Ascending Order by Form Number	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717491 \h  31  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717492"  Forms Available only as PDF	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717492 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717493"  Subpart and Section References, 44 CFR
Part 204	  PAGEREF _Toc271717493 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717494"  Subpart A—General	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717494 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717495"  Subpart B—Declaration Process	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717495 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717496"  Subpart C—Eligibility	  PAGEREF
_Toc271717496 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717497"  Subpart D—Application Procedures	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717497 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717498"  Subpart E—Grant Administration	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717498 \h  32  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc271717499"  9500 Series Policy Publications	 
PAGEREF _Toc271717499 \h  33  

 



ACRONYMS

CFR	Code of Federal Regulations

EMAC	Emergency Management Assistance Compact

FEMA 	Federal Emergency Management Agency

FF	FEMA Form

FMAGP	Fire Management Assistance Grant Program

GAR	Governor’s Authorized Representative

ICARS	Incident Command Accounting and Reporting System

ICS	Incident Command System

KBDI	Keetch-Byram Drought Index

NFDRS	National Fire Danger Rating System

NIC	NIMS Integration Center

NIMS	National Incident Management System

OMB	Office of Management and Budget

PL	Public Law

PW 	Project Worksheet

RFMAS	Request for Fire Management Assistance Subgrant

SMP	State Mitigation Plan

USFS 	U.S. Forest Service



DEFINITIONS 

(Unless otherwise noted, definitions are from 44 CFR part 204.3)

Applicant.  A State or Indian tribal government submitting an
application to us for a fire management assistance grant, or a State,
local, or Indian tribal government submitting an application to the
Grantee for a subgrant under an approved fire management assistance
grant.

Assistant Administrator. The Assistant Administrator or Assistant
Director, as applicable, of the Recovery Directorate of FEMA, or his/her
designated representative.

Declared Fire.  An uncontrolled fire or fire complex, threatening such
destruction as would constitute a major disaster, which the Assistant
Administrator has approved in response to a State's request for a fire
management assistance declaration and in accordance with the criteria
listed in §204.21.

Demobilization. The process and procedures for deactivating,
disassembling, and transporting back to their point of origin all
resources that had been provided to respond to and support a declared
fire.

Fire Complex. Two or more individual fires located in the same general
area, which are assigned to a single Incident Commander.

Governor's Authorized Representative (GAR). The person empowered by the
Governor to execute, on behalf of the State, all necessary documents for
fire management assistance, including the request for a fire management
assistance declaration.

Grant. An award of financial assistance, including cooperative
agreements, by FEMA to an eligible Grantee. The grant award will be
based on the projected amount of total eligible costs for which a State
submits an application and that FEMA approves related to a declared
fire.

Grantee. The Grantee is the government to which a grant is awarded which
is accountable for the use of the funds provided. The Grantee is the
entire legal entity even if only a particular component of the entity is
designated in the grant award document. Generally, the State, as
designated in the FEMA-State Agreement for the Fire Management
Assistance Grant Program, is the Grantee. However, after a declaration,
an Indian tribal government may choose to be a Grantee, or it may act as
a subgrantee under the State. An Indian tribal government acting as
Grantee will assume the responsibilities of a “state”, as described
in this Part, for the purpose of administering the grant.

Hazard Mitigation Plan. A plan to develop actions the State, local, or
tribal government will take to reduce the risk to people and property
from all hazards. The intent of hazard mitigation planning under the
Fire Management Assistance Grant Program is to identify wildfire hazards
and cost-effective mitigation alternatives that produce long-term
benefits. We address mitigation of fire hazards as part of the State's
comprehensive Mitigation Plan, described in 44 CFR part 201.

ICARS. U.S. Forest Service automated system for the generation,
delivery, routing, and tracking of resources and costs. 

Incident Commander.  The ranking official responsible for overseeing the
management of fire operations, planning, logistics, and finances of the
field response. The ranking “red card” official responsible for a
declared fire. (“Red card” is the fire qualifications card issued to
fire-rated persons showing their training needs and their qualifications
to fill specified fire suppression and support positions on a fire or
other incident.) 

Incident Period. The time interval during which the declared fire
occurs. The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the GAR and the
Principal Advisor establish the incident period. Generally, costs must
be directly related to or incurred during the incident period to be
considered eligible.

Indian Tribal Government.  An Indian tribal government is any Federally
recognized governing body of an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band,
nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of Interior
acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized
Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a. This does not include Alaska
Native corporations, the ownership of which is vested in private
individuals.

Individual Assistance.  Supplementary Federal assistance provided under
the Stafford Act to individuals and families adversely affected by a
major disaster or an emergency. Such assistance may be provided directly
by the Federal Government or through State or local governments or
disaster relief organizations. (For further information, see subparts D,
E, and F of 44 CFR part 206).

Local Government.  Any county, municipality, city, town, township,
public authority, school district, special district, intrastate
district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of
governments is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under State
law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or
instrumentality of a local government; any Indian Tribal government or
authorized Tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or
organization; and any rural community, unincorporated town or village,
or other public entity, for which an application for assistance is made
by a State or political subdivision of a State. 

Major Disaster. Any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane,
tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami,
earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or
drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any
part of the United States, which in the determination of the President
causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major
disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and
available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief
organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering
caused thereby. (Stafford Act section 102(2), 42 U.S.C. 5122(2))

Mitigation, Management, and Control.  Those activities undertaken,
generally during the incident period of a declared fire, to minimize
immediate adverse effects and to manage and control the fire. Eligible
activities may include associated emergency work and pre-positioning
directly related to the declared fire.

Mobilization. The process and procedures used for activating,
assembling, and transporting all resources that the Grantee requested to
respond to support a declared fire.

Performance Period.  The time interval designated in block 13 on the
Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) for the Grantee
and all subgrantees to submit eligible costs and have those costs
processed, obligated, and closed out by FEMA.

Pre-positioning.  Moving existing fire prevention or suppression
resources from an area of lower fire danger to one of higher fire danger
in anticipation of an increase in fire activity likely to constitute the
threat of a major disaster.

Principal Advisor.  An individual appointed by the Forest Service,
United States Department of Agriculture, or Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior, who is responsible for providing FEMA with a
technical assessment of the fire or fire complex for which a State is
requesting a fire management assistance declaration. The Principal
Advisor frequently participates with FEMA on other wildland fire
initiatives.

Project Worksheet.  FEMA Form 90–91, which identifies actual costs
incurred by eligible applicants as a result of the eligible firefighting
activities. The PW is used to document the location, damage description
and dimensions, scope of work, and cost estimate for each project. It is
the basis for the FMAGP grant. 

Public Assistance.  Supplementary Federal assistance provided under the
Stafford Act to State and local governments or certain private,
nonprofit organizations for eligible emergency measures and repair,
restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities. (For further
information, see 44 CFR Subparts G and H of Part 206.

Regional Administrator.  The administrator of a regional office of FEMA,
or his/her designated representative.

Standard Form (SF) 424.  Request for Federal Assistance. A State submits
this form to apply for a grant under a fire management assistance
declaration.

State. Any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands. (44 CFR 206.2)

Subgrant.  An award of financial assistance under a grant by a Grantee
to an eligible subgrantee.

Subgrantee.  An applicant that is awarded a subgrant and is accountable
to the Grantee for the use of grant funding provided.

Threat of a Major Disaster.  The potential impact of the fire or fire
complex is of a severity and magnitude that would result in a
presidential major disaster declaration for the Public Assistance
Program, the Individual Assistance Program, or both.

Uncontrolled Fire.  Any fire not safely confined to predetermined
control lines as established by firefighting resources.

FOREWORD

A wildfire is unpredictable and can change direction unexpectedly,
spread across fire breaks and highways and destroy or damage homes,
buildings, and any other structures in its path. Uncontrolled fires can
rapidly turn into blazing infernos producing fear, economic loss,
disrupted lives, and loss of life and property. 

Controlling fires is the responsibility first of the local community and
then the State. Often, their combined efforts are not sufficient to stop
the spread of the fire and cope effectively with the direct results of
its aftermath. When this occurs, the State may request Federal
assistance to supplement State, Tribal, and local efforts. The Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law
93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §5121, et seq. (the Stafford Act)
authorizes the President to provide Fire Management Assistance in
response to a declared fire. Federal assistance is coordinated through
the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). Under the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program
(FMAGP), FEMA provides assistance, including grants, equipment,
supplies, and personnel, to any State or local government for the
mitigation, management, and control of any fire on public or private
forest land or grassland that threatens such destruction as would
constitute a major disaster.

The FMAGP replaced FEMA’s Fire Suppression Assistance Program when
Section 420 of the Stafford Act was amended by the Disaster Mitigation
Act of 2000, Public Law 106-390 and is effective for all fires declared
on or after October 30, 2001. In order to ensure proper implementation
of the program, it is vital that those involved at any level with the
FMAGP share a common understanding of the program policies and
procedures. To support this goal, FEMA has prepared this guide as an
effort to provide the State, Tribal, and local partners with information
about the program.

This guide describes the FMAGP basic provisions, application procedures,
and other related program guidance. The guide may be of interest to
elected leaders, emergency managers, public works directors, financial
management personnel, and other individuals who have the responsibility
for responding to wildfires. This guide is available electronically at  
HYPERLINK "http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa" 
www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa . (Click on Policy and Guidance). 

We invite comments that will make this guide as helpful as possible to
all users, applicants, and administrators of Public Assistance. Please
send your comments, as well as any other suggestions on ways to improve
the program, to:

FMAG Program

Public Assistance Division, 4th Floor

Federal Emergency Management Agency

500 C Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20472CHAPTER ONE

OVERVIEW 

This guide describes the basic provisions, processes, and procedures of
the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP). Under this
Program, FEMA provides financial assistance in the form of grants, to
assist in reimbursement for equipment, supplies, and personnel, to any
State or local government for the mitigation, management, and control of
any declared fire on public or private forest land or grassland that
threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.

The FMAG Program is a Public Assistance Program based on a partnership
of FEMA, State, and local officials.

FEMA is responsible for managing the program, approving grants, and
providing technical assistance to the State and applicants.

The State, in most cases, acts as the Grantee for the FMAGP. FEMA, the
State, and the Applicant are all responsible for grants awarded under
the FMAGP. The State educates potential applicants, works with FEMA to
manage the program, and is responsible for implementing and monitoring
the grants awarded under the program. Some State regulations prohibit
the State from acting as Grantee for an Indian Tribe. In such cases, or
upon the Tribe's choice, a Tribal government may act as its own Grantee.

Local officials are responsible for providing accurate and sufficient
data to the State documenting costs incurred in response to an FMAGP
Declaration and fire suppression efforts. 

Governing Documents

The FMAGP is based on a hierarchy of statutes, regulations, and
policies. The statute is the Federal law that authorizes the program.
From the statute, regulations are published to further define program
scope. Finally, policies are written to apply the statute and
regulations to specific situations. These authorities govern the
criteria through which FEMA provides funds for the FMAGP.

Federal Statutes. Statutes are laws passed by the U.S. Congress and
signed by the President. They cannot be changed or waived by FEMA or any
other government agency or official.

The Stafford Act is the law authorizing the FMAGP, specifically section
420, (42 U.S.C. 5187). The Stafford Act can be viewed on-line at:  
HYPERLINK "http://www.fema.gov/about/stafact.shtm" 
http://www.fema.gov/about/stafact.shtm .

Section 420:  

Authorizes the President to provide Fire Management Assistance to State
and local governments;

Requires coordination with State and Tribal Departments of Forestry;

Allows the President to provide Essential Assistance under Section 403
of the Stafford Act; and

Requires the establishment of rules and regulations to carry out the
program. 

Regulations. Regulations are rules designed to implement a statute based
on an agency’s interpretation of a statute. They establish the basic
requirements for administering a program. Typically, regulations are
published through an official process that allows for public comment.
Regulations have the full force and effect of law and must be complied
with once they are implemented. The regulations published in 44 CFR Part
204 govern the FMAGP and outline program procedures, eligibility, and
policies. 

Additional regulations regarding grant administration and allowable
costs are found in 44 CFR Part 13, Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
Relevant OMB Circulars, specifically A-87 (Cost Principles for State,
Local, and Indian Tribal Governments), and A-133, (Audits of State,
Local Government, and Non-Profit Organizations) must also be followed in
grant administration. 

Policies. Policies clarify or provide direction for specific situations
within the parameters established by the Stafford Act and regulations
that pertain to the FMAGP. FEMA writes and publishes policies to ensure
consistency in interpretation across the nation. FMAGP policies are
included in other PA program policies and can be found here:   HYPERLINK
"http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm" 
http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm .

The process to obtain FMAGP assistance begins when the Grantee submits a
declaration request to the FEMA Regional Administrator. This process and
procedures are described in chapter two.CHAPTER TWO

DECLARATION PROCESS

Submitting a Declaration Request

When an uncontrolled fire is such a threat that, in the opinion of the
on scene commanders or other government officials, the fire threatens
such destruction that would constitute a major disaster and is beyond
the ability of the State and local government resources to control, the
Governor may request assistance from the FMAGP. 

To begin the FMAGP application process, the Governor of a State or the
Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) submits a request for a
FMAGP declaration. In addition to the declaration request, the Governor
may also designate the GAR to execute, on behalf of the State, all
necessary documents for requesting fire management assistance.

Declaration Request Processing

The Governor or GAR must submit a request while the fire is burning
uncontrolled and threatening such destruction as would constitute a
major disaster (44 CFR 204.22).  As the FMAGP operates in real time
during an incident, declaration requests may be submitted day or night.
To expedite processing the State’s declaration request, the request
may be submitted verbally by telephone to the FEMA Regional
Administrator or designated FEMA Regional Fire Duty Liaison. 

When submitting a declaration request, the Governor of a State or the
GAR should provide factual data and professional estimates as available
to support the request. As the request must be submitted while the fire
is uncontrolled, the State may submit the request verbally via the
telephone. The State’s verbal request must be followed up with the
completed Request for Fire Management Assistance Declaration, (FEMA form
(FF) 90-58) (44 CFR 204.22).  The information on FF 90-58 provides
written confirmation of information submitted during the telephone
declaration request and is required for official FEMA files. All
official forms including the FF 90-58 and the Principal Advisor’s
Report, (FF 90-32), must be received in FEMA’s Headquarter Office
within fourteen (14) days of the date of the phone request to the FEMA
Regional Office.

Information for the Declaration Request 

Required Information.  For FEMA to apply the evaluation criteria in 44
CFR 204.21, the following information, if available, should be included
in both the verbal and written requests:

Size of fire(s) in acres or square miles;

Name, location, and population of community(ies) threatened;

Number of primary and secondary residences and businesses threatened;

Distance of fire to nearest communities;

Number of persons evacuated to date, if applicable;

Current and predicted (24-hour) weather conditions; and 

Degree to which State and local resources are committed to this fire and
other fires in Federal, State, or local jurisdictions.

To further support a declaration request, the State may append
additional documentation to the FF 90-58, including:

Fire severity maps;

Geographic, topographical, or land assessment maps; or

Incident status summary report (ICS-209).

Fire Complex.  A State may submit a request for an FMAGP declaration for
a fire complex. Pursuant to 44 CFR 204.3, all fires within the complex
should be located in the same general area.  All fires within a complex
should be managed by the same Incident Commander, and should be approved
under the fire declaration. Even though an entire complex may be
designated in a declaration request, not all fires within the complex
will automatically qualify. FEMA, in cooperation with the State, will
determine which fires are eligible under a fire management assistance
declaration. 

Incident Period. The FEMA Regional Administrator, in consultation with
the GAR and the Principal Advisor, determine the start and end dates of
the incident period which is usually not established until the fire is
controlled. 

The incident period may start on the date of the fire management
assistance declaration or with the initial firefighting actions at the
time when the fire threatens such destruction as would constitute a
major disaster. While the incident period is normally considered closed
when the fire is controlled, the final decision rests with the FEMA
Regional Administrator, GAR, and Regional Advisor. The end of a shift or
a workday normally marks the closing of the incident period. If the
incident period starts before the date of the State’s declaration
request, the factors and circumstances supporting that determination
should be documented by the GAR and reviewed and approved by the FEMA
Regional Administrator.

Generally, wildland firefighting costs must be incurred during the
incident period of a declared fire to be considered eligible under FMAGP
(44 CFR 204.42(a).) However, costs related to pre-positioning,
mobilizing and demobilizing may be incurred outside of the approved
incident period. These costs are discussed in detail in Chapter Three,
Eligibility.

Duties, Roles, and Responsibilities

State Role.  

The Governor or GAR is responsible for submitting a fire declaration
request. The request may be submitted by telephone to FEMA’s Regional
Fire Duty Liaison. Following a phone request, the Governor or GAR must
complete the FF 90-58, Request for Fire Management Assistance
Declaration, and submit it to the FEMA Regional Administrator no later
than fourteen (14) days after the date of the initial phone request.

FEMA Regional Office Role.  

The regional office is responsible for receiving the declaration
request, obtaining additional information from the State if the
declaration request is incomplete or insufficient to make a
determination, and for making the declaration decision.

Within the Regional Office, the Regional Fire Duty Liaison is the
primary point of contact for  FMAG requests. The Regional Fire Duty
Liaison will request an assessment of the fire from the Principal
Advisor. After all the information is obtained from the State and
verified with the assistance of the Principal Advisor, the Regional Fire
Duty Liaison contacts the Region’s Recovery Director for a briefing
prior to contacting the Regional Administrator. The Regional
Administrator approves or denies the request. If the request is
approved, the Regional Fire Duty Liaison receives the FMAG declaration
number from the Headquarters Office Declaration Unit and provides the
number to the State. 

The Regional Administrator evaluates the declaration request and
approves or denies the request based on:

Evaluation criteria;

Information provided in the State’s request;

Principal Advisor’s Report.

The threat posed by a fire or fire complex is evaluated using the
State’s declaration request. The following information is used to
evaluate the threat:

The fire or fire complex threatens lives and improved property,
including critical facilities/infrastructure and critical watersheds.
Improved properties include, but are not limited to:

Homes (single family and multi-family [i.e., townhouses, condos,
apartments]);

Hospitals, prisons, and schools;

Police and fire stations;

Water treatment facilities;

Public utilities; and

Major roadways.

Availability of Federal, State and local firefighting resources:

The degree of commitment by Federal, State, and local resources to other
fires; and

The lack of available Federal, State, and local wildland firefighting
resources. 

High fire danger conditions as indicated by nationally accepted indices:

National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS);

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI);

Palmer Drought Index; and 

Haines Index.

4. Potential major economic impact:

State level;

Local level; and

Regional level.

Following the Regional Administrator’s decision, the Region contacts
the State to inform regarding approval or denial. Once a determination
is rendered, the Regional POC provides a summary email of the
declaration facts to the Regional Administrator and other FEMA
leadership.

 

Principal Advisor’s Role. 

The Principal Advisor provides technical assistance to the FEMA Regional
Fire Duty Liaison regarding the fire or fire complex that is under
consideration for a declaration request. The Principal Advisor completes
the Principal Advisor’s Report, (FF 90-32), and provides it to the
FEMA Regional Fire Duty Liaison or reports the information verbally.
Specifically, the Principal Advisor provides a technical assessment
regarding the weather, fire behavior, and fire prognosis. The Principal
Advisor’s Report (FF 90-32) is used to verify the information and
facts submitted by the State. The Principal Advisor’s Report does not
recommend whether to approve or deny a State’s declaration request.

The Principal Advisor’s Report is included as part of the State’s
declaration request package submitted to the FEMA Regional Office. The
Report should be submitted to FEMA’s Regional Office no later than
fourteen (14) days after the date of the State’s request for a fire
management assistance declaration.

Headquarters Office Role. 

The Headquarters Office, including the Response and Recovery Associate
Administrator and Deputy, Recovery Assistant Administrator and Deputy,
and Declarations Unit staff receives the Region’s summary email of the
declaration or denial facts. If the declaration request was approved,
the Declarations Unit responds with the FMAG number they assigned to the
declared fire, and prepares and sends a letter from the FEMA
Administrator to the White House regarding the determination.
Additionally, the Declarations Unit provides the assigned FMAG
declaration number to the Regional Fire Duty Liaison. 

Appeal of Denied Declaration Request   (44 CFR 204.26)

If FEMA denies the State’s request for a declaration, the State has
one opportunity to appeal the denial. The appeal must be submitted in
writing to the Regional Administrator no later than thirty (30) days
from the date of the letter informing the State of the denial. The
appeal should contain any additional information that strengthens the
State’s original request for assistance.

The Regional Administrator will review the appeal, prepare a
recommendation, and forward the appeal package to the FEMA Headquarters
Office. The FEMA Headquarters Office notifies the State of its
determination, in writing, within ninety (90) days of receipt of the
appeal, or receipt of the additional requested information.

The State may request a time extension to submit the appeal. The request
for an extension must be submitted in writing to the Regional
Administrator not later than thirty (30) days from the date of the
letter denying the declaration request. The request for an extension
must include a justification for the need for an extension. The FEMA
Headquarters Office evaluates the need for the extension based on the
reasons cited in the request and renders a determination. The Regional
Office will notify the State, in writing whether the extension request
is granted or denied. 

 

Post-Declaration Requirements

A State or Indian Tribal government intending to apply to FEMA for
assistance under the FMAGP must have a formally approved State
Mitigation Plan. If the State or Indian Tribal Government does not have
an approved State Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 CFR §
204.51(d)(2) it must formally submit an acceptable State Mitigation Plan
for FEMA’s review and approval within 30 days of the signature date of
the Amendment of the FEMA-State Agreement for the FMAGP (Exhibit E).
FEMA has 45 days, to review the Plan. FEMA will not approve the
application for assistance under the FMAGP if the State or Indian Tribal
government does not have an existing State Mitigation Plan or fails to
submit one within the required timeframe. 



FEMA-State Agreement

The FEMA-State or FEMA-Tribal Agreement for FMAGP (the Agreement) is a
legally binding document, that outlines the terms and conditions under
which grant funding is provided for fire management assistance
declarations, and details applicable laws and regulations governing the
program.

The Agreement is in effect for one calendar year. It must be updated
annually and, ideally, should be signed each January before the start of
fire season. The Agreement lists the GAR and other officials authorized
to act on the behalf of the State. A FEMA-Tribal Agreement must be
signed if a Tribal government wishes to serve as a dual Grantee. 

The Agreement consists of a cover letter and five Exhibits. A FEMA-State
Agreement template is available from the FEMA HQ Declarations Unit or
Public Assistance Division. A brief description of the exhibits follows:
 

Exhibit A - State Officials authorized to execute certification and
otherwise to act on behalf of the State.

Exhibit A designates the GAR and Alternate GAR empowered by the Governor
to execute all necessary documents for FMAGP, including the declaration
request and application for a Fire Management Assistance Grant.

In cases where the FEMA-Tribal Agreement is signed, the list of State
Certification Officers designates and empowers an Indian Tribal
authorized representative and Alternate Tribal authorized
representative, empowered by the Indian Tribal Chairman, to execute the
application for a fire management assistance grant. Until Exhibit A has
been completed, only the Indian Tribal Chairman has the authority to
submit the application for a Fire Management Assistance Grant.

Exhibit B - Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.

This certification is required by the regulations implementing the
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, 44 CFR part 17, Subpart F. Grantees
must certify prior to award that they will maintain a drug-free
workplace. 

Exhibit C - Certification for Contacts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative
Agreements, New Restrictions on Lobbying

Certification required by the regulations implementing the “New
Restrictions on Lobbying”, 44 CFR Part 18. Certifies no federal
appropriated funds are used to influence or attempt to influence
officers or employees of an agency, member of congress, an officer of
employee of Congress in connection with the awarding of a federal grant
or loan, cooperative agreement, or an extension continuation, renewal,
amendment or modification of these. 

Exhibit D - Disaster Grant Agreement Articles. 

The four Articles in this exhibit describe fiscal and other general
grant obligations that must be followed. These include 44 CFR Parts 13,
17, 18, 204 and Subchapter B, Insurance and Hazard Mitigation,
Subchapter C, Fire Prevention and Control, Subchapter D, Disaster
Assistance, Part 7 relating to Nondiscrimination in federally-assisted
programs, OMB Circulars, A-110, A-102, A-87, A-122, and A-133 and
finally 31 CFR 205.6 Funding Techniques, Cost Management Improvement Act
and other specific terms and conditions. 

Exhibit E - Amendment to the FEMA-State Agreement for the Fire
Management Assistance Grant Program

After a State’s declaration request has been approved, the Governor or
GAR should immediately sign the Amendment (described below) of the
FEMA-State Agreement for FMAGP. The Amendment must be signed by the
State (or Indian Tribal Government when appropriate), and FEMA for each
declared fire that occurs within the calendar year.

The Amendment contains specific information for each declared fire,
including the name of the fire or fire complex, declaration number,
affected counties, and incident period. The Amendment must be completed
for each declared fire and appended to the Agreement. The GAR or Indian
Tribal representative as identified on the list of State Certification
Officers can sign the Amendment on behalf of the State or Indian Tribal
government.

If a State does not have a signed FEMA-State Agreement prior to
submitting a declaration request to FEMA, the State should sign an
Agreement immediately after FEMA has approved the declaration request.
If the Agreement is signed after the first fire is declared, the
Governor must sign both the Agreement and Exhibit E. The State must sign
and submit the Agreement prior to, or with, the submittal of the FMAGP
grant assistance request (Standard Form 424). Funding will not be
obligated until the Governor signs the Agreement (or Indian Tribal
Chairman, when appropriate, signs). Failure to sign the Agreement may
result in denial of the fire management assistance grant. 

Modifying a Declaration Request to Add Counties

If a declared fire or fire complex burns into adjacent counties, the
additional counties may be eligible for assistance under the declared
fire. In order to be eligible, the State must provide sufficient
information to justify assistance for the additional counties. The State
must submit the same type of information for the requested add-on
county(ies) as was provided to FEMA for the original declaration
request. All information is evaluated on the threat of the fire,
potential economic impact, weather conditions, and committed and
available resources. Once all information is submitted, FEMA will
evaluate and decide whether to designate the additional county. If the
request to add counties is denied, the appeal process is the same as
that for a denied fire declaration request as described on page 13 of
this guide and in 44 CFR §204.26, Appeal of fire management assistance
declaration denial. CHAPTER THREE

ELIGIBILITY

This section discusses eligibility criteria for FMAGP. The two
eligibility main components are:

Eligible Applicants for Grants and Subgrants; and

Eligible Costs.

Applicant eligibility and eligible costs are discussed in their entirety
in 44 CFR Subpart C – Eligibility, 204.41 – 201.43. 

Grant and Subgrant Applicants

Eligible Applicants: Those entities legally responsible for the
firefighting activities for which reimbursement is being requested. The
following applicants are eligible to apply through the Grantee:

State agencies;

Local governments; and

Indian Tribal governments.

 

Under a FMAGP declaration, an affected Indian Tribal government may
elect to serve as Grantee, or it may act as a subgrantee of the State.
An Indian Tribal government acting as Grantee must assume all the
responsibilities of a State as outlined in 44 CFR Part 204 for the
purpose of administering a grant. An Indian Tribal government must have
a FEMA-Tribal Agreement and an approved Tribal Mitigation Plan in place
in order to serve as a Grantee.

Ineligible Applicants: Governmental entities that do not have legal
responsibility for the firefighting activities, privately owned
entities, and volunteer firefighting organizations. However, ineligible
applicants may be reimbursed through a compact, mutual aid agreement or
contract with an eligible applicant for eligible costs associated with
the declared fire or fire complex. Such payments are contingent on a
FEMA determination that the activities meet all other eligibility
criteria. 

Eligible Costs 

All eligible work and related costs must be associated with the incident
period of a declared fire. FMAGP eligible work directly related to the
declared fire is documented into two general categories: 

Category B – Limited assistance provided under Section 403 of the
Stafford Act; and

Category H – Eligible work associated with fire-related activities. 

Eligible work performed must be:

The legal responsibility of the applicant, whether it was performed by
the applicant’s own agents or through a secondary party as described
in the preceding paragraphs;

Required as a result of the declared fire; and

Located within the designated area. 

Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following:

Equipment and supplies;

Labor costs;

Travel and per diem;

Temporary repairs of damage caused by firefighting activities; 

Mobilization and demobilization; and

Limited Pre-positioning costs approved by the Regional Administrator.

Grantee and subgrantee administrative costs are discussed in Chapter 5,
Grant Management. Eligibility of costs incurred by entities working
through Mutual Aid Agreements is discussed in Chapter 4, Mutual Aid.

Equipment and Supplies

FEMA will reimburse applicants for costs associated with equipment and
supplies for declared fires. Eligible costs for equipment and supplies
include:

Personal comfort and safety items normally provided by the State under
field conditions for firefighter health and safety.

Replacement of firefighting supplies, tools, and materials that are
expended, lost, or destroyed with comparable items to the extent not
covered by reasonable insurance.

Reimbursement for ownership and operation costs of applicant-owned
equipment based on equipment rate guidelines in 44 CFR 206.228(a)(1),
Allowable costs. 

Operation and maintenance costs of publicly owned, contracted, rented,
or volunteer firefighting department equipment to the extent any of
these costs are not included in applicable equipment rates. 

Use of U.S. government-owned equipment based on reasonable actual costs
as billed by a Federal agency and paid by the State. Reimbursement for
the use of Federal Excess Personal Property is based only on the direct
cost for use of the equipment.

Repair of applicant-owned equipment is determined by FEMA’s Regional
Office based on repair of damaged applicant-owned equipment less
insurance proceeds. The FEMA Regional Office will determine equipment
rate costs on the lowest applicable equipment rates, which may be FEMA,
U.S. Forest Service, or State or local rates, depending on the piece of
equipment and the formula used to calculate the rate.

Replacement of applicant-owned equipment that is lost or destroyed in
firefighting activities with comparable equipment of the same age,
capacity, and condition to the extent not covered by reasonable
insurance.

Purchase of supplies and equipment that are necessary to respond to the
declared fire may be eligible. However, the Grantee or subgrantee may be
required to compensate FEMA for the fair market value of the equipment
and supplies when the items are no longer needed for fire suppression
activities. Use FEMA Policy No. 9525.12, Disposition of Equipment,
Supplies and Salvaged Materials for guidance. 

Labor Costs.

Labor costs eligible for reimbursement include:

Overtime for force account permanent or reassigned State, Indian Tribal,
or local governmental employees, including firefighters, police,
logistical support, and other personnel involved in eligible fire
suppression-related activities. 

Seasonally employed personnel, when covered under existing budgets and
used for fire suppression activities during the season of employment,
are considered permanently employed for the purpose of cost eligibility.

Regular-time and overtime for temporary and contract employees hired to
perform eligible fire suppression-related activities. 

Increased portion of overtime costs for regular full-time employees
backfilling (one level) for other regular full-time employees within the
same entity who are performing eligible fire suppression-related work. 

Permanent employees who are funded from an external source (e.g., by a
grant from a Federal agency, statutorily dedicated funds, or
rate-payers) to work on specific non-disaster tasks may be paid for
regular-time and overtime for fire suppression-related work. However,
the FEMA Region must consult with the FEMA Headquarter Office before
approving payment.

For further guidance see FEMA Policy No. 9525.7, Labor Costs-Emergency
Work  at   HYPERLINK
"http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm" 
http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm . 

Travel and Per Diem

Travel and per diem are eligible for applicants under a declared fire.
Eligible travel and per diem include:

Travel and per diem for all State, Indian Tribal, and local governmental
employees who provide services requested by the Incident Commander and
directly associated with declared and eligible fire-related activities.

Field camps and meal costs when provided in lieu of per diem.

Pre-Positioning Costs

States frequently pre-position Federal, out-of-State, State,
International, and local resources during extreme fire hazards to
improve initial attack capabilities. Pre-positioning is the temporary
relocation of existing fire prevention or suppression resources from an
area of low fire danger to one of higher fire danger in anticipation of
an increase in fire activity likely to constitute the threat of a major
disaster. 

Pre-positioning costs incurred up to a maximum of 21 days before the
date of the fire declaration may be eligible under FMAGP, even when
staged outside the designated area. However, only pre-positioning costs
for out-of-State, Federal, and International resources actually used on
the declared fire are eligible for funding. Costs incurred to
pre-position resources that remained at the staging area and were not
used on the declared fire are not eligible. 

For example, if one staging area has three Blackhawk helicopters
pre-positioned and only one of the helicopters is used in the wildland
firefighting efforts for a declared fire. Only the pre-positioning costs
for that one helicopter are eligible for funding. The use of one piece
of equipment on a declared fire does not make pre-positioning costs for
an entire staging area (i.e., all three helicopters) eligible for
funding.

The Regional Administrator must approve all pre-positioning costs.  For
pre-positioning costs to be eligible under FMAGP, the State must:

Notify the FEMA Regional Administrator of its intention to seek funding
for pre-positioning resources at the time it submits the declaration
request (or immediately thereafter). Since pre-positioning is undertaken
in anticipation of an event, it is reasonable for a State to know
whether it anticipates submitting costs for pre-positioning at the time
the declaration request is approved or immediately thereafter

Document specific pre-positioned resources by number, type, and
location;

Estimate the cost of the pre-positioned resources and the duration of
pre-positioning; and

Provide detailed justification for pre-positioning, including scientific
indicators such as drought indices, current allocation of State
firefighting resources, weather conditions, and the number of wildland
fires currently burning in the State.

Emergency Work/Essential Assistance

FEMA may provide funding under FMAGP for essential assistance to reduce
or minimize immediate threats to life and property under Section 403,
Essential Assistance of the Stafford Act when such assistance is
directly related to the mitigation, management, and control of the
declared fire. 

Mitigation, management, and control are those activities undertaken,
generally during the incident period of a declared fire, to minimize the
immediate adverse effects and to manage and control the fire. Only
emergency work performed during the incident period of a declared fire
is eligible for funding.

Essential mitigation, management, and control activities under Section
403 may include:

Police barricading and traffic control;

Extraordinary emergency operations center expenses;

Evacuation and sheltering (people, household pets, and service animals);

Search and rescue;

Arson patrol and investigation teams, operating during the declared fire
incident period when there is a clear continuing threat;

Public information dissemination to inform people what to do during the
declared fire; and

Limited removal of burned or unburned trees (i.e., snags) that pose a
threat to the safety of the general public.

Mitigation activities designed to reduce the potential for future fires
or to minimize damage from future fires are ineligible for funding under
FMAGP.

Temporary Repairs

Temporary repair of damage caused by firefighting activities are
short-term actions to repair damage directly caused by firefighting
efforts or activities. All temporary repair of damage caused by
firefighting activities must be completed within thirty (30) days of the
close of the incident period for the declared fire. It should be noted
that temporary repair of damage caused by firefighting activities does
not include repair of damage caused by the declared fire; additionally,
the cost is less any proceeds covered by insurance.

Examples of temporary repair activities that may be eligible for funding
include:

Minimal repairs to bulldozer lines, field camps, and staging areas to
address safety concerns. For example, severe gouging of the grounds of a
heavily trafficked park or recreation area may be eligible to be filled
or boarded over to mitigate public safety and health concerns. However,
temporary repairs would not include a complete re-grading of an entire
park or recreation area.

Minimal repairs to facilities, such as fences, buildings, bridges, and
roads, damaged by firefighting activities. For example, repair of a
portion of a fence that was removed to gain access to a declared fire
with a section of chain link fence may be eligible.



Mobilization and Demobilization

Costs for mobilizing and demobilizing resources to and from a declared
fire may be eligible for reimbursement under FMAGP.

Mobilization is the process used for activating, assembling, and
transporting all resources the Grantee requested to respond to or
support a declared fire.

Demobilization is the process of deactivating, disassembling, and
transporting back to their point of origin all wildland firefighting
resources that had been provided to respond to and support a declared
fire.

Demobilization costs may be claimed at a delayed date after submittal of
other eligible costs if deployment involves one or more declared fires.

NOTE:  If resources are being used on more than one declared fire,
mobilization and demobilization costs must be claimed against the first
declared fire on which they are used.

Donated Resources

In some fires, individuals and organizations donate volunteer labor,
equipment, and material. FEMA has determined that the value of
“in-kind” contributions by third parties may be credited toward the
calculation of the non-Federal cost share. FEMA Policy No. 9525.2,
Donated Resources, provides guidance on how to credit applicants for the
value of donated resources. See   HYPERLINK
"http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm" 
http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm .

 

Ineligible Costs

Ineligible costs include the following:

Costs not directly associated with the fire’s incident period (with
the exception of pre-positioning, and mobilization/demobilization of
eligible resources), and

Costs incurred in the mitigation, management, and control of undeclared
fires;

Costs for the straight or regular-time salaries and benefits of
permanently employed or reassigned personnel of a subgrantee;

Costs for mitigation, management, and control of a declared fire on
commingled Federal land when such costs are reimbursable to the State by
a Federal agency under another statute (44 CFR Part 51); 

Time and costs expended by volunteer labor, which by nature is offered
on a donated basis and is not bound by contract or employment terms (see
“Donated Resources”). 

Costs related to planning, pre-suppression, recovery, and mitigation of
possible future damage related to the burn area of the declared fire; 
such as:

	- Planning actions such as risk assessments;

	- Cutting fire-breaks without the presence of an imminent threat;

	- Pre-planned non-field training;

 	- Road widening;

	- Land rehabilitation such as seeding, planting operations, or erosion
control;

	- Timber salvage; and

	- Restoration of facilities damaged by fire.

CHAPTER FOUR

MUTUAL AID

Mutual Aid Agreements

Many State, Tribal, and local governments enter into mutual aid. A
mutual aid agreement is an agreement between jurisdictions or agencies
to provide services across boundaries in an emergency or major disaster.
Such agreements usually provide for reciprocal services or direct
payment for services. FEMA will reimburse mutual aid costs for eligible
emergency work, when requested by the applicant (receiving entity) in
accordance with   HYPERLINK
"http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9523_6.shtm"  FEMA Policy
9523.6, Mutual Aid Agreements for Public Assistance .

Key provisions of the Policy are:

Reimbursement provisions are not contingent on a declared fire; 

Assistance is for the performance of eligible work; 

Claimed costs are reasonable; 

Requesting and providing entities keep detailed records of services
requested and received; and 

Claimed costs are in accordance with FEMA policy. 

When a pre-event agreement provides for reimbursement, but also provides
for an initial period of unpaid assistance, FEMA will pay the eligible
costs of assistance after the initial unpaid period. When a pre-event
mutual aid agreement provides for reimbursement and there is a
consistent record of reimbursement without Federal funds, FEMA
reimbursement will follow the provisions of the agreement.

When the parties do not have a pre-event written mutual aid agreement,
the Requesting and Providing entities may verbally agree on the type and
extent of mutual aid resources to be provided to the current event, and
the terms, conditions, and costs of such assistance. Post-event verbal
agreements must be documented in writing and executed by an official of
each entity with authority to request and provide assistance, and
provided to FEMA as a condition of receiving reimbursement.

Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)

EMAC is a form of mutual aid whereby a disaster-impacted state can
request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and
efficiently. There are two types of work potentially eligible for FEMA
reimbursement; grant management work and emergency work. To the extent
the specific agreement between states meets the requirements of the FEMA
policy on mutual aid agreements and the work meets FEMA eligibility
requirements, costs may be eligible for FEMA assistance.  Reimbursement
for these costs is subject to the non-Federal cost share for that FMAGP
declaration. 

To be allowable, costs must be consistent with policies, regulations,
and procedures that apply uniformly to both Federal awards and other
activities of the applicant. The receiving entity is responsible for
requesting FEMA assistance and for the non-Federal cost share.

Follow this link for additional information on EMAC:   HYPERLINK
"http://www.emacweb.org"  http://www.emacweb.org 

CHAPTER FIVE

GRANT MANAGEMENT

The Grantee is the State or Indian Tribal government receiving an FMAGP
grant and is responsible for administering the grant. There is only one
Grantee for each declared fire, except when a State Grantee and an
Indian Tribal Grantee are under the same fire declaration. Only the
State agency as designated by the Governor in the FEMA-State Agreement
for FMAGP for the declared fire, or an Indian Tribal government, can be
designated as the Grantee. 

General administrative requirements for grants and cooperative
agreements are found in   HYPERLINK
"http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=755ecb784c5429
f500d276d561835922&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title44/44cfr13_main_02.tpl"  44 CFR
Part 13 , Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements to State and Local Governments. Additional program specific
requirements for FMAGP are found in 44 CFR Part 204, Fire Management
Assistance Grant Program. 

Grant Application File

The Regional Office maintains a grant application file that may include
the following forms. 

Grantee

Standard Form 424	Request for Federal Assistance

FEMA Form 90-58 	Request for FM Declaration, and

FEMA Form 90-32	Principal Advisor's Report

Subgrantee

FEMA Form 90-133	Request for Fire Management Assistance Subgrant
(RFMAS); and

FEMA Form 90-91	Project Worksheet (PW)

FEMA Form 20-16a	Assurances Non-Construction Programs 

FEMA Form 20-16b	Assurances Construction Programs

Standard Form 269	Financial Status Report

Standard Form 245	Federal Financial Report (This form replaced FEMA Form
20-10 in

	October 2009) 

The FEMA Regional Office is responsible for reviewing grant applications
for eligibility and approving and obligating funds. 

Initial Grant Application and Approval Timeframe

The State must submit its initial grant application (SF 424) no later
than nine (9) months after the date of the fire declaration. In
extenuating circumstances, such as delay in receiving bills for Federal
resources ordered, the State may submit a written request for a time
extension to the FEMA Regional Administrator. The request for a time
extension must provide a detailed justification for the delay and need
for the extension. Upon receipt of the written request from the State,
the FEMA Regional Administrator may approve a time extension of up to 3
months.

The FEMA Regional Administrator has forty-five (45) days from the
receipt of the State’s initial grant application, or an amendment to
the State’s grant application, to approve or deny the application
package or amendment or to notify the State of a delay. Before the
Regional Administrator can approve the State’s grant application, the
State must demonstrate that it:

Met the fire cost threshold; 

Has an approved State Administrative Plan; and

Has an approved State Mitigation Plan.

Fire Cost Threshold

Prior to approval of the grant, the State’s eligible fire costs must
meet either its individual fire cost threshold or the cumulative fire
cost threshold. 

When submitting the initial grant application, the State must
demonstrate that is has met either the individual or cumulative fire
cost threshold. To demonstrate that the individual or cumulative fire
cost threshold has been met, the State or FEMA staff must document the
total eligible costs for a declared fire on PWs (FF 90-91). These are
attached to the SF 424 and submitted as part of its grant application.

It is important to note that the cost for the pre-positioning of
wildland firefighting resources is not considered when determining
whether a grant application meets the fire cost threshold. The costs for
all eligible fires within a declared fire complex are aggregated and
treated as an individual fire for purposes of meeting or exceeding the
fire thresholds. 

Amendments to the initial grant application may be submitted thereafter,
increasing the overall value of the grant.

Individual Fire Cost Threshold:  The individual fire cost threshold is
based on total eligible costs for the declared fire. The individual fire
cost threshold for a State is the greater of the following: 

$100,000; or

 “5% x the statewide per capita indicator x the State population (the
statewide per capita indicator is adjusted annually for inflation. The
FY10 indicator is $1.29)”

Cumulative Fire Cost Threshold:  The cumulative fire cost threshold is
based on total eligible costs incurred during the calendar year for all
declared fires and total costs incurred on non-declared wildland fires
(Federal costs not billed/payable by the State cannot be included in
this calculation). The cumulative fire cost threshold for a State is the
greater of the following:

$500,000; or

 3 x the statewide per capita indicator x the State population (the
statewide per capita indicator is adjusted annually for inflation. The
FY10 indicator is $1.29)”

NOTE: The fire cost thresholds for each State are adjusted annually for
inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the U.S Department of Labor.

State Administrative Plan

In accordance with CFR 44 part 204.51(d)(1), Application and approval
procedures for a fire management assistance grant, the State must
develop an Administrative Plan or have a current FEMA-approved
Administrative Plan on file with the FEMA Regional Office that describes
the procedures for administering the FMAGP. The plan may be a
stand-alone document or an addendum to the Public Assistance Program
State Administrative Plan.

At a minimum, the State Administrative Plan must include:

The designation of the State agency (i.e., Grantee) that will have
responsibility for program administration; and

The identification of staffing functions for FMAGP including:

sources of staff to fill these functions,

management and oversight responsibilities of each; and,

procedures for:

Notifying potential applicants of the availability of the program;

Assisting FEMA in determining applicant eligibility;

Submitting and reviewing subgrant applications;

Processing payment requests for subgrantees;

Submitting, reviewing, and accepting performance and financial reports;

Monitoring, closing-out, auditing, and reconciling of subgrants;

Recovering funds for disallowed costs;

Processing appeal requests and requests for time extensions; and,

Providing technical assistance and materials on the application
procedures, program eligibility guidance, and program deadlines.

The State should review its FMAGP State Administrative Plan annually and
make necessary amendments to reflect changes in programmatic guidance or
signatory parties. The State may request the Regional Administrator
provide technical assistance in preparing the State Administrative Plan.


State Mitigation Plan. Section 322 of the Stafford Act, Mitigation
Planning  and implementing regulations (44 CFR Parts 201 and 204),
require governments to take a proactive approach to mitigation planning.
Before FEMA can approve a State FMAGP application the Grantee must have
an approved State Mitigation Plan that addresses wildfire risks and
mitigation measures.

The intent of requiring hazard mitigation planning to receive FMAGP
grants is to identify wildfire hazards and cost-effective mitigation
alternatives that produce long-term benefits.

See page 14 under Post-Declaration Requirements for FMAGP State
Mitigation Plan requirements.

 

Grantee Responsibilities

The Grantee is responsible for administering a FMAGP grant. Grantee
responsibilities include the following:

Submitting the grant application package to the FEMA Regional
Administrator for review and approval;

Managing the administration and operation of FMAGP in coordination with
FEMA;

Disbursing funding to subgrantees;

Monitoring subgrant awards;

Conducting closeouts; and

Obtaining audits.

The Grantee is the primary contact for transactions with and on behalf
of applicants applying for a fire management assistance subgrant. The
Grantee is responsible for submitting all subgrantee requests (RFMAS –
FF 90-133) and PWs (FF 90-91) to FEMA for review and approval as part of
the grant application package. The Grantee certifies applicant
eligibility and that costs for work performed in the wildland
firefighting activities comply with FEMA laws, regulations, policy, and
guidance applicable to FMAGP, as well as the terms and conditions
outlined for the administration of the grant in the FMAGP FEMA-State
Agreement. During the closeout process or an audit, should funds be
disallowed, the Grantee is responsible for recovery and return of funds
to FEMA.

Subgrants

Eligible Subgrant Entities

State and Indian Tribal governmental agencies not designated as Grantee,
as well as local governmental entities, are eligible for FMAGP
subgrants.  In cases where an Indian Tribal government is serving in a
dual role as a Grantee and subgrantee under the State’s declaration,
all Indian Tribal government entities applying for subgrants must submit
their applications through the Indian Tribal government Grantee.
Privately owned entities, PNP, and volunteer entities are not eligible
for subgrant, but may be reimbursed through a Mutual Aid contract or
compact with an eligible subgrantee. 

Subgrant Application Request

State, Indian Tribal, and local governments interested in applying for
FMAGP subgrants must submit a Request for Fire Management Assistance
Subgrant (RFMAS) (FF 90-133) to the Grantee in accordance with State
procedures, and within the timeframe established by the Grantee, but no
later than 30 days after the close of the incident period.

The RFMAS is an applicant’s official notification to both the Grantee
and FEMA of its intent to apply for a subgrant. The form includes
information identifying the applicant, including the applicant’s name,
address, and primary and secondary contacts. The Grantee reviews the
RFMAS and forwards it to the FEMA Regional Office. The Regional
Administrator then determines applicant eligibility and informs the
Grantee of his/her determination. The Grantee then notifies the
applicant. If approved, the subgrant application process may begin.

Project Worksheets

After approving a Grantee or Subgrantee’s request, FEMA Regional staff
may begin to work with the Grantee and local staff to prepare PWs (FF
90-91). The Regional Administrator may request the Principal Advisor to
assist with PW preparation. 

 

Subgrantees must submit all PWs to the Grantee for review. The Grantee
then submits them to the Regional Administrator as part of its grant
application. PWs must be greater than $1,000 to be eligible under FMAGP.
PW’s must be submitted within the timeframe established by the
Grantee, but no later than six (6) months from the close of the incident
period. At the request of the grantee, the Regional Administrator may
grant a three month extension.

Cost Share  (44 CFR 204.61)

The Federal cost share for a Fire Management Assistance Grant is 75
percent. The 25 percent non-Federal cost share can be provided in its
entirety by the Grantee, subgrantee, or a combination of the two. Under
the FMAGP, FEMA does not have authority to adjust the cost-share. All
terms and conditions are outlined in the FEMA-State Agreement and apply
to all declared fires within each calendar year. 

Duplication of Benefits  (44 CFR 204.62)

Pursuant to section 312 of the Stafford Act, FEMA may not duplicate
benefits received by or available to the applicant from insurance, other
assistance programs, legal awards, or any other source to address the
same purpose. A subgrantee must notify the Grantee of all benefits that
it receives or anticipates to receive from other sources for the same
purpose and must seek all such benefits available to them. FEMA will
reduce the grant by the amount available for the same purpose from other
sources. 

Assistance may be provided under FMAGP when other benefits do not fully
cover the eligible work. However, the applicant must repay FEMA for any
duplicated amounts that it receives or has available to it from other
sources.

FEMA does not provide assistance that duplicates activities for which
another Federal agency has more specific or primary authority to provide
assistance for the same purpose. FEMA may disallow or recoup amounts
that fall within another Federal agency’s statutory authority. FEMA
may provide assistance in such situations, but the applicant must agree
to seek assistance from the appropriate Federal agency and to repay FEMA
for amounts that are within another agency’s authority. It is the
applicant’s responsibility to notify the Grantee of any duplicate
costs recovered from another Federal agency.

Negligence and Intentional Acts  (44 CFR 204.62 (c)&(d))

FEMA will not provide assistance to an applicant for costs attributable
to its own negligence.   If negligence by another party results in
damages, assistance may be provided, on the condition that the applicant
agrees to cooperate in all efforts necessary to recover the cost of such
assistance from the negligent party.  Any individual who intentionally
causes a declared fire shall be liable to the United States to the
extent costs incurred.  An individual will not be liable as a result of
actions taken or omitted in the course of rendering care or assistance
in response to the fire.  

If the applicant suspects negligence or intentional acts by a third
party for contributing to or igniting a declared fire, the applicant is
responsible for taking all reasonable steps to recover costs from the
third party. Any recovered costs are considered duplicated benefits and
need to be remitted to FEMA.

To ensure that applicants take reasonable steps toward cost recovery and
possible prosecution of responsible entities, FEMA will require
applicants to document their liability findings and proposed plan of
action. The Grantee must work with the State’s Attorney General to
pursue legal avenues to recover costs from any negligent third party
responsible for a declared fire. The State’s decision to prosecute for
damages from a liable third party must be documented and signed by the
State’s Attorney General, and provided by the Grantee to the Regional
Office as part of the State’s initial grant application or as a
subsequent amendment.

The Applicant must demonstrate reasonable efforts to recover costs from
a negligent third party. If FEMA determines an applicant has not made
reasonable efforts to recover costs from a negligent third party
responsible for igniting a declared fire, FEMA may withhold or recoup
funding from the grant. FEMA recognizes that it may not be feasible or
cost effective for applicants to pursue cost recovery from all third
parties responsible for igniting a declared fire.

If an applicant chooses not to prosecute a third party whose intentional
acts contributed to the costs incurred by the declared fire, FEMA
reserves the right to do so.

When the declared fire was determined to have been caused by an
intentional act, the Grantee and/or Subgrantee must agree to cooperate
with the Federal government in any action it may take to recover costs.
Specifically, 44 CFR § 204.62(d), Duplication and recovery of
assistance requires “an agreement by the applicant to cooperate with
[FEMA] in [its] efforts to recover the cost of the assistance from the
liable party.” Again, when the State signs the FEMA-State Agreement,
under Article 9 it agrees “...on its behalf and on behalf of its
political subdivisions and other recipients of Federal disaster
assistance, to cooperate with the Federal Government in seeking recovery
of funds ... against any party or parties whose intentional acts or
omissions may have caused or contributed to the damage or hardship for
which Federal assistance is provided... .”

FEMA will review any costs recovered by the Grantee and/or Subgrantee
for a fire caused by an act of negligence to determine if there is a
duplication of benefits per 42 U.S.C. § 5155 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Assistance and Relief Act. Duplicated costs must be repaid
based on the Federal cost share. Consideration will be given to the
terms and conditions of the award or settlement, and any additional
legal costs incurred.

Administrative Costs  (44 CFR 204.63)

Grantee

The Grantee may claim both direct and indirect administrative costs for
extraordinary costs associated with requesting, obtaining, and
administering a grant for a declared fire. Direct costs include regular
and overtime pay and travel expenses for permanent, reassigned,
temporary, and contract employees who assist in administering the Grant.

Funding for other direct costs incurred by the Grantee administering a
Grant, such as equipment and supply purchases, may be eligible, but must
be reviewed by the Regional Administrator.

Indirect costs incurred by the Grantee during the administration of a
grant are allowed in accordance with the provisions of 44 CFR Part 13
and OMB Circular A-87. The Grantee must submit a copy of the indirect
cost proposal along with the PW for indirect costs. The PW is reviewed
by FEMA’s Disaster Finance Center for reasonableness and eligibility.

Costs included in the computation of the indirect cost rate are not
allowable as direct administrative costs. 

Subgrantee

The subgrantee may claim extraordinary costs associated with requesting,
obtaining, and administering a subgrant for a declared fire. Direct
costs include regular and overtime pay and travel expenses for
permanent, reassigned, temporary, and contract employees who assist in
administering the fire management assistance subgrant.

Funding for other direct costs incurred by the subgrantee administering
a subgrant, such as equipment and supply purchases, may be eligible, but
must be reviewed by the Grantee and FEMA Regional Administrator.

Subgrantees may not claim indirect administrative costs.

Appeals of Grant Eligibility

A Grantee or subgrantee may appeal any grant-related determination made
by FEMA, including determinations on applicant eligibility, work
eligibility, and cost eligibility. See 44 CFR § 204.54, Appeals.

There are two levels of appeals.  The first is to the FEMA Regional
Administrator. The second appeal is to the Assistant Administrator of
the Recovery Directorate in FEMA Headquarters, and it is the final
administrative decision of FEMA. 

Applicants must submit all appeals within sixty (60) days to the
Grantee. The Grantee reviews the appeal(s) and forwards with a written
recommendation to the FEMA Regional Administrator. 

Appeals should contain documented justification supporting the
appellant’s position, specifying the determination in dispute and the
provisions in Federal law, regulation, or policy with which the
appellant believes the initial action was inconsistent.

Within ninety (90) days following receipt of an appeal, the FEMA
Regional Administrator (for first appeals) or Assistant Administrator
for the Recovery Directorate at FEMA Headquarter Office (for second
appeals) will notify the Grantee in writing of the disposition of the
appeal or of the need for additional information.

A request for additional information will include a date when the
information must be provided. Within 90 days following the receipt of
the requested additional information, or following expiration of the
period for providing the information, the Regional Administrator or
Assistant Administrator for the Recovery Directorate will notify the
Grantee in writing of the disposition of the appeal. If the decision is
to grant the appeal, the FEMA Regional Administrator takes appropriate
implementing action. 

When an appeal involves technical issues, the FEMA Regional
Administrator or Assistant Administrator for the Recovery Directorate
may submit the appeal to an independent scientific or technical person
or group for advice or recommendation. The period for this technical
review may be in addition to other allotted time periods. Within ninety
(90) days of receipt of a technical report, the FEMA Regional
Administrator or Assistant Administrator for the Recovery Directorate
will notify the Grantee in writing of the disposition of the appeal.

Grant Closeouts

Regulations governing grant closeouts are found in 44 CFR Part 13,
Subpart D—After-The-Grant Requirements, section 13.50, Closeout. The
purpose of closeout is to certify that all eligible costs have been
disbursed. During the closeout process, estimated costs are reconciled
with actual costs. It is the Grantee’s responsibility to document all
costs associated with the eligible wildland firefighting activities. The
Grantee is responsible for making sure that all documentation on PWs is
accurate, complete, and up to date for closeout. Failure to properly
document any project may result in loss of funding for that project. 

The Grantee must submit all required documentation within ninety (90)
days after the performance period expiration date. The performance
period is the time interval designated in Block 13 on SF 424 for the
Grantee and all subgrantees to submit eligible costs and have those
costs processed, obligated, and closed out by FEMA. The Grantee will
submit a final Federal Financial Report (SF 425), which reports all
costs incurred within the incident period and all administrative costs
incurred within the performance period.

A grant is ready to be closed when all funds have been distributed and
all documentation is complete. Either FEMA or the Grantee can begin the
closeout process. The FEMA Regional Office may begin the closeout
process with a letter of inquiry, followed by a letter of intent to
proceed with the closeout when no other justification can be provided to
keep the grant open.

Audit Requirements and Documentation

All Grant and subgrant recipients must comply with OMB Circular A-133,
Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements to State and Local Governments, specifically that section
requiring grant or subgrant recipients expending $500,000 or more in
Federal funds in a fiscal year to obtain an audit. Specific information
pertaining to the audit requirements of each State is outlined in their
respective State Administration Plans. States must abide by both Federal
and State audit requirements. 

Grant recipients may also be subject to additional audits by the
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and State
auditors for items not covered under OMB Circular A-133. Specific
documentation and procedures are based on the requirements of the OMB.
The OMB requires grant receipts to maintain financial and program
records for three years following certification and request for
closeout. The Office of Inspector General may independently, or at
FEMA’s request, initiate an audit of a Grantee or subgrantee for a
particular fire or fire complex.

In some instances, State law and procedures may require paperwork to be
saved for longer than the three years required by OMB. It is important
for grant recipients to check the specific audit requirements and
statutes governing their State.

The importance of maintaining a complete and accurate set of records for
each project cannot be overemphasized. Accurate and complete
documentation will facilitate the validation, approval, and funding
processes for projects.

All of the documentation pertaining to a project should be filed
together with the corresponding Project Worksheet and maintained as part
of the permanent record of the project. These records become the basis
for verifying project costs.

Documentation is the process of establishing and maintaining accurate
records of events and expenditures related to suppression and recovery
work. The information required for documentation basically describes
the “who, what, when, where, why, and how much” for each item of
disaster recovery work.

It is important that events and expenses incurred in an FMAG
declaration are accurately documented. While there are many ways to
maintain records, a system must be in place to ensure all necessary
information is readily available and in a usable format. 

Accurate documentation helps to:

Recover eligible costs;

Have the information necessary to develop project worksheets; 

Have the information available, which the Region and/or State may need
to see, to validate the accuracy and eligibility of costs; and

Be ready for any State or Federal audits, or other Federal program
reviews.

CHAPTER SIX

SUPPLEMENTRY INFORMATION

Forms

The following forms may be accessed at FEMA’s Management Directorate
Webpage located at: 

  HYPERLINK "http://online.fema.net/management/records/forms.shtm" 
http://online.fema.net/management/records/forms.shtm 

Ascending Order by Form Name

SF 424		Application for Federal Assistance

FF 90-128	Applicant’s Benefits Calculation Worksheet 

FF 20-20	Budget Information—Non-construction Programs

FF 90-126	Contract Work Summary Record 

FF 20-10	Financial Status Report 

FF 90-127	Force Account Equipment Summary Record   

FF 90-123	Force Account Labor Summary Record 

FF 90-124	Material Summary Sheet 

FF 90-32	Principal Advisor’s Report

FF 90-91	Project Worksheet  

FF 90-91A 	Project Worksheet—Damage Description and Scope of Work
Continuation Sheet

FF 90-91B 	Project Worksheet—Cost Estimate Continuation Sheet 

FF 90-91C	Project Worksheet— Maps and Sketches Sheet

FF 90-125	Rented Equipment Summary Record 

FF 90-58	Request for Fire Management Assistance Declaration 

FF 90-133	Request for Fire Management Assistance Subgrant   

FF 90-120	Special Considerations Questions   

FF 20-16	Summary Sheet for Assurances and Certifications

FF 20-16A	Assurances—Non-construction Programs

FF 20-16B	Assurances—Construction Programs

FF 20-16C 	Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension And
Other

		Responsibility Matters; And Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 

Ascending Order by Form Number

FF 20-16	Summary Sheet for Assurances and Certifications

FF 20-16A	Assurances—Non-construction Programs

FF 20-16B	Assurances—Construction Programs

FF 20-16C 	Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension And
Other

		Responsibility Matters; And Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 

FF 20-20	Budget Information—Non-construction Programs

FF 90-120	Special Considerations Questions   

FF 90-123	Force Account Labor Summary Record 

FF 90-124	Material Summary Sheet 

FF 90-125	Rented Equipment Summary Record 

FF 90-126	Contract Work Summary Record 

FF 90-127	Force Account Equipment Summary Record   

FF 90-128	Applicant’s Benefits Calculation Worksheet 

FF 90-133	Request for Fire Management Assistance Subgrant   

FF 90-58	Request for Fire Management Assistance Declaration 

FF 90-91	Project Worksheet  

FF 90-91A 	Project Worksheet—Damage Description and Scope of Work
Continuation Sheet

FF 90-91B 	Project Worksheet—Cost Estimate Continuation Sheet 

FF 90-91C	Project Worksheet— Maps and Sketches Sheet

FF 90-32		Principal Advisor’s Report

SF 424		Application for Federal Assistance

SF 425		Federal Financial Report 

 

Forms Available only as PDF 

Incident Status Report ICS-209   HYPERLINK
"http://www.usda.gov/documents/ics209.pdf" 
http://www.usda.gov/documents/ics209.pdf 

Subpart and Section References, 44 CFR Part 204

Subpart A—General

§ 204.1   Purpose.

§ 204.2   Scope.

§ 204.3   Definitions used throughout this part.

§§ 204.4-204.20   [Reserved]

Subpart B—Declaration Process

§ 204.21   Fire management assistance declaration criteria.

§ 204.22   Submitting a request for a fire management assistance
declaration.

§ 204.23   Processing a request for a fire management assistance
declaration.

§ 204.24   Determination on request for a fire management assistance
declaration.

§ 204.25   FEMA–State agreement for fire management assistance grant
program.

§ 204.26   Appeal of fire management assistance declaration denial.

§§ 204.27-204.40   [Reserved]

Subpart C—Eligibility

§ 204.41   Applicant eligibility.

§ 204.42   Eligible costs.

§ 204.43   Ineligible costs.

§§ 204.44-204.50   [Reserved]

Subpart D—Application Procedures

§ 204.51   Application and approval procedures for a fire management
assistance grant.

§ 204.52   Application and approval procedures for a subgrant under a
fire management

	assistance grant.

§ 204.53   Certifying costs and payments.

§ 204.54   Appeals.

§§ 204.55-204.60   [Reserved]

Subpart E—Grant Administration

§ 204.61   Cost share.

§ 204.62   Duplication and recovery of assistance.

§ 204.63   Allowable costs.

§ 204.64   Reporting and audit requirements

9500 Series Policy Publications

FEMA policies governing Pubic Assistance and Fire Management Assistance
may be accessed on-line at:   HYPERLINK
"http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm" 
http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9500toc.shtm 

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