Udall: NM to Receive $7.2 Million Reimbursement for Fire Fighting Efforts

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing more than $7.2 million to New Mexico for the state's recent fire suppression efforts in the 2011 Track and Donaldson fires.

"As New Mexico faces this ongoing drought, we are preparing for another potentially dangerous fire season," said Udall. "These federal grants are critical in ensuring that our state has the resources it needs to combat the wildfires that threaten our homes and ways of life."

The Forestry Division of the New Mexico Energy Mineral, and Natural Resource Department will receive two FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) reimbursements in the amounts of $4,050,328 and $3,173,028 for the Track and Donaldson fires, respectively.

In June 2011, the Track Fire burned almost 28,000 acres near Raton, N.M. and the Donaldson Fire burned over 101,500 acres south of Hondo, N.M.

Fire Management Assistance is available to states, local and tribal governments for the mitigation, management and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction that would constitute a major disaster.

FMAG provides 75 percent of the federal cost share and the state pays the remaining 25 percent for documented costs incurred in firefighting, including personnel, equipment and fire suppression contracts.