Cal OES Director Secures Federal Aid to Assist Agencies Battling Sage Fire Near Stevenson Ranch

Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci this evening secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital public safety resources to suppress the Sage Fire burning in the Stevenson Ranch area of Los Angeles County. The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.

As of 7pm Saturday evening, Los Angeles County officials report the fire has burned more than 800 acres, caused more than 2,000 residents to evacuate from at least 700 homes, and is threatening areas near the Morning Mist community. An evacuation center has been opened at the West Ranch High School, 26255 West Valencia Boulevard in Stevenson Ranch. The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control is at West Ranch High School for shelter of small animals.

Meanwhile, Cal OES Fire, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Coordinators have been working with the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriffs Departments and other agencies to dynamically assess and address mutual aid needs for the Sage Fire.

The federal grant, 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.

Additional information is available at:

• Incident information for the Sage Fire via Los Angeles County Fire Department Twitter and website – http://go.usa.gov/xcwDY
• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Santa Clarita Valley Station Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SantaClaritaValleySheriffsStation/posts/1406233276070531
• Incident map for the Sage Fire via Google Maps
• More About Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) – http://bit.ly/28RnLUC
• Cal OES Twitter @Cal_OES
• Cal OES Facebook
• California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services – http://www.caloes.ca.gov