FEMA announces funding for several fires in Washington, Idaho

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared that several fires in Washington and Idaho threaten widespread destruction and are eligible for federal funding. The Stevens County Complex, which includes the Maple Valley Fire near Addy, the Stickpin fire in Ferry County, the Reach Complex near Chelan, the Okanogan County Complex and the Municipal Fire outside of Orofino, Idaho, will all receive funding. FEMA will pay 75 percent of firefighting costs but does not cover damage to homes or infrastructure. The Stevens County Complex includes 16 known fires. The Maple Valley Fire near Addy has destroyed four homes and eight outbuildings and over 1,000 homes have been evacuated. More than 500 homes have been evacuated near the Stickpin fire, which is over 20,000 acres large and not contained. More than 700 homes have been evacuated near Chelan for the Reach Complex and an additional 150 homes are threatened in Douglas County after the fire jumped the Columbia River. In some places the fire is only 200 yards from homes. The Okanogan County Complex includes eight fires and the towns of Pateros and Conconully are at risk. Hundreds have been evacuated. The Municipal Fire just outside Orofino has burned an estimated 800 acres and as well as two homes and several outbuilding. More than 400 homes are threatened and people have been evacuated. The large number of fires has prompted the Idaho Panhandle National Forest to take the unusual step of urging people to avoid recreating in the forest. Over 100 new fires have been reported in the Panhandle in the last week. Many are small, but some are thousands of acres large. Many forest roads are also busy with firefighting equipment.