The Office of Governor Greg Gianforte Press Release:
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the State of Montana has obtained a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from FEMA to aid in the expenses related to battling the Horse Gulch Fire in Lewis & Clark and Broadwater counties.
Governor Gianforte urged Montanans to heed evacuation warnings and orders from local law enforcement and take necessary precautions. The state has been in constant communication with the U.S. Forest Service since the fire began on federal land, providing resources as needed. An on-site briefing from incident command has been requested in the coming days.
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) of Montana submitted the request for firefighting assistance in coordination with Disaster and Emergency Services (DES), which was approved by FEMA.
The FMAG grants FEMA funding to cover 75% of the state’s eligible firefighting costs, including materials, mobilization, equipment use, aviation expenses, and field camp costs. However, it does not assist individual homeowners or businesses nor cover other infrastructure damages caused by the fire.
Each FMAG also generates over $950,000 in federal mitigation funding managed by Montana DES to reduce future disaster risks.
The Horse Gulch Fire has put the community of York, Montana, at risk, with nearly 500 homes and over 400 people in danger. Starting on July 9, 2024, the fire has burned more than 11,607 acres and remains uncontained.
Today, fire management has transitioned to a Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team from a Northern Rockies Type 3 Incident Management Team.
For more updates on the Horse Gulch Fire, visit the InciWeb site.
For current fire information in Montana, preparedness tips, and restrictions, visit mtfireinfo.org.
