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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

83.542:  Fire Suppression Assistance

Objectives:  To provide grants to States for the suppression of any fire on public (nonfederal) or privately owned forest or grassland that threatens to become a major disaster.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

83.542 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State governments, as defined above, are eligible for fire suppression assistance.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  The State Government in suppressing the fire in the designated fire area.

Credentials/Documentation:  Cost will be determined in accordance with FEMA Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart L. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments.

83.542 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  A continuing FEMA-State Agreement for Fire Suppression Assistance is signed by the Governor and the Regional Director. This agreement contains the necessary terms and conditions for requesting assistance and the types of assistance that will be provided. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The State Governor (or authorized representative) requests a fire suppression declaration through the FEMA Regional Director. To speed action on the State request, the State may submit a phone request to the Regional Director, promptly followed by a confirming telegram or letter. The Associate Director of the Response and Recovery Directorate (or his authorized representative) shall make a decision on the State request and notify the Regional Director of this decision. This decision may be made by phone and followed by a written determination.

Award Procedure:  None.

Deadlines:  Fire suppression assistance must be requested while a fire threatens to become a major disaster.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 1 hour to 48 hours.

Appeals:  States have the recourse to two types of appeals under the fire Suppression Assistance Program. Under the first type of appeal, a State may appeal a denial of its request for a fire suppression grant assistance. The appeal must be submitted, in writing and through the Regional Director, within 30 days of the date such assistance was denied, and should contain any additional information that could have altered the original determination. This appeal is a one-time request for reconsideration. The Executive Associate director of the Response and Recovery directorate will render the final determination on this type of appeal. Under the second type of appeal, a State may appeal the denial of a determination related to level of Federal assistance being provided under an approved fire suppression grant. The State has 60 days to submit, in writing, an appeal to the Regional Director. In the event the Regional Director denies the appeal, the State may submit a second-level appeal to the Executive Associate Director of the Response and Recovery Directorate. The second appeal must be submitted in writing and transmitted through the Regional Director. Under this type of appeal, the second-level appeal is also the final appeal.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  None.

83.542 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 83.543 Individual and Family Grants.

83.542 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, 37 fire suppression grants were authorized.

83.542 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  RESPONSE AND RECOVERY DIRECTORATE, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants; Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment; Provision of Specialized Services.

Obligations:  (Grants and Services) Not separately identifiable.

Budget Account Number:  58-0104-0-1-453.

Authorization:  Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.; Executive Order 12148, as amended; Reorganization Plan No. 3, 1978.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Federal Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR 206; DR&R-3,"Fire Suppression Assistance Handbook"; FEMA 229(4),"Disaster Assistance: A Guide to Recovery Programs," DAP-19; "A Guide to Federal Aid in Disasters."

83.542 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office:  Curtis Carleton, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Response and Recovery Directorate, Washington, DC 20472. Phone: (202) 646-4535.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

83.542 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Fire suppression assistance may be available to States on a 70/30 percent Federal/State cost-sharing basis for fires that threaten to become major disasters. The State must first meet an annual floor cost (five percent of average fiscal year costs for fire suppression) on a single declared fire. After the State's out-of-pocket expenses exceed twice the average fiscal year cost, the Federal share is 100 percent of the cost of all costs for fire suppression assistance when it is provided.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  The length of the assistance period varies depending on the length of time to suppress the fire so that a threat of a major disaster no longer exists.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Fire Suppression grants are made in the form of cost-sharing grants to any State. A State is defined as any State of the United States, DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Marianna Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Marshall Islands. Without a Presidential declaration, grants may be made to States for the suppression of forest and grassland fires which threaten to become major disasters.

83.542 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Progress status reports are required quarterly.

Audits:  Each State is required to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Single Audit Act of 1984, Public Law 98-502, and the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, Public Law 104-156. Implementation requirements of this law are established by OMB Circular No. A-133. FEMA's implementing regulations appear at 44 CFR Parts 13 and 14. For fiscal years beginning after June 30, 1996, applicants should consult the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, Public Law 104-156 and OMB Circular No. A-133 for changes which are not yet reflected in 44 CFR Parts 13 and 14. OMB Circular No. A-133 provisions have been published in the Federal Register on August 29, 1997. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more within their fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular A-133, but the records must be available for review or audit.

Records:  Expenditure records and related documents must be retained for 3 years from the date of final payment, or in case of small project grants three years from date of final completion.