Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the state’s request for Fire Management Assistance Grants to assist in managing the Rest Area Fire in Gray County and the Crabapple Fire in Gillespie County.
“Texas is working around the clock to provide all necessary resources to local officials fighting wildfires in Gray and Gillespie counties,” said Governor Abbott. “With the approval of these Fire Management Assistance grants, we will continue to support our brave firefighters as they battle these dangerous blazes. The safety and well-being of Texans is our No. 1 priority, and we will work tirelessly to ensure impacted communities get the assistance they need. I thank our first responders and brave firefighters for their work to protect their fellow Texans.”
The grants approved by FEMA will allow Texas to receive 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for expenses incurred while fighting the Rest Area and Crabapple fires. These grants are available to states and local jurisdictions to help mitigate, manage, and control fires that threaten significant destruction, potentially constituting a major disaster. The support is critical for fires on both publicly and privately owned forests or grasslands.
In response to the wildfires, Governor Abbott has directed a variety of state emergency resources to assist local authorities. These resources include:
Texas A&M Forest Service: Local, state, and out-of-state firefighters, fire engines, bulldozers, motor graders, and federally contracted firefighting aircraft, such as large air tankers, helicopters, and aerial attack platforms for surveillance.
Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team supporting deployed resources statewide.
Texas National Guard: Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters equipped with firefighting capabilities.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Wildland Fire Support Packages, including medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles.
Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers patrolling roadways and assisting stranded motorists.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens and State Park Police for additional support.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service: Urban Search and Rescue Teams.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery support for agriculture and livestock needs.
Texas Animal Health Commission: Coordinating animal resource needs.
Texas Department of Agriculture: Coordinating agricultural support.
Texas Department of Transportation: Monitoring road conditions.
Public Utility Commission of Texas: Coordinating power outage responses.
Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring natural gas supplies and communication with the oil and gas industry.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air, water, and wastewater monitoring.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Providing information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network.
Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure.
This coordinated effort aims to minimize the impact of the fires and ensure that all necessary resources are in place to protect lives, property, and natural resources.
