California secures federal assistance to support response to Franklin Fire in Malibu
SACRAMENTO – Moving swiftly to support the state’s response to the Franklin Fire, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire burning in Malibu.
“Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire. California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The fast-moving Franklin Fire ignited shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in Malibu Canyon near South Malibu Canyon Road and Francisco Ranch Road. More than 1,822 acres had burned, forcing the evacuation of most of Malibu.
The FMAG, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis, will assist local, state, and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75 percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.
On Monday, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services approved the prepositioning of firefighting resources in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and Ventura counties amid Red Flag fire weather conditions the National Weather Service called a Particularly Dangerous Situation.
Californians are urged to remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities during extremely critical fire weather conditions expected in many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Inland Empire, San Diego County valleys and inland Orange County on Tuesday and Wednesday.