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1 1 (October 25, 2007)

handle is hein.crs/crsajqi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22744 October 25, 2007 California Wildfires and Federal Assistance Ross W. Gorte Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary Wildfires in southern California have destroyed homes and forced thousands to evacuate. The federal government is assisting state and local efforts to control the fires and evacuate those at risk. Federal programs also exist to assist in recovery efforts after the fires are out. Preventing a recurrence of catastrophic wildfires is impossible, but research has shown how to protect homes even while wildfires are burning. Raging wildfires, burned homes, and the evacuation of thousands of Californians have been making headlines. Options for federal support and assistance - during the fires, in the aftermath, and aimed at preventing a recurrence - have been raised by many concerned about the ongoing disaster. This report addresses these federal options. During the Fire Two federal options for action exist while wildfires are burning. One option relates to efforts to control and extinguish the fires. Federal responsibility for wildfire suppression is limited to federal lands; states are responsible for suppressing wildfires on nonfederal (state and private) lands.! The federal government provides support to the states in two ways. One is through direct financial assistance for state fire protection efforts, funded through the Forest Service's state fire assistance program.2 The other, and more critical in the current situation, consists of fire suppression forces and assistance - personnel, funding, and equipment (including aircraft) - provided at a state's request, and coordinated through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, ID as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In emergencies, NIFC coordinates federal, state, and private forces (including the military, when called upon) to assist the state or region in need while maintaining local wildfire protection. How paying for these forces gets allocated is usually addressed after the emergency is over. Fire management assistance is also provided by FEMA under the Robert T. Stafford 1 See CRS Report RL30755, Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection, by Ross W. Gorte. 2 See CRS Report RL33990, Wildfire Funding, by Ross W. Gorte.

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