Big Spring and Howard County will receive welcome financial help from the federal government to help defray costs incurred by the recent spate of wildfires.
Regional officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it will soon provide funds to help reimburse the county and city for at least a portion of the costs incurred while fighting the recent fires in this area.
“Howard County fire conditions are extreme. The Kentwood fire in Big Spring covered 200 acres and threatened over 200 homes and a nursing home when the state requested federal aid,” FEMA Regional Administrator William Peterson said in a statement. “Fires like this show how critical it is for firefighters to receive the support they need to protect the public.”
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires, the statement noted.
Howard County Judge Mark Barr said the county qualified for the FEMA funds because recent fires in the Silver Heels and Kentwood areas threatened at least 100 homes.
“We’ll get at least some of our money back, based on fuel costs and the cost of maintaining our firefighting equipment,” Barr said. “This is very good. It won’t pay all of our costs, but it will help defray at least some of them.”
Barr and other area officials will meet with FEMA authorities in the near future to hammer out an agreement. The judge said it will likely be six or seven months before the city and county receives the agency funds.
It is unknown at this time how much money local agencies will receive from FEMA, Barr added.
County and city firefighting crews have been extremely busy the past several weeks battling a variety of wildfires in this area. The latest, on Monday, resulted in the destruction of two homes on Fisher Road, while a third on Rebecca Drive sustained serious damage.
Despite the heavy workload, Barr said firefighting equipment and crews were holding up well.
“As soon as something breaks down, we get it fixed,” Barr said. “(County Volunteer Fire Department Chief) Tommy (Sullivan) takes good care of the equipment, and the commissioners support him 100 percent. There’s not been any major equipment breakdown yet, just your normal wear and tear.”
Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234 or by e-mail at
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