July 28, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved three of five Oregon requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG). These grants are meant to provide financial assistance to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to help mitigate, manage and control active wildfires on public or private forests or grasslands that threaten to become major. Three of the governor’s applications for such designation were approved, the Lower Dry Creek Fire near Milton-Freewater, the Awaka Butte Fire near Sisters, and the Grasshopper fire near Pine Hollow.
According to FEMA’s office of external affairs, these fires, at time of designation, could have become “major disasters” without speedy intervention. It appears, sadly, that these have indeed become major fires.
Lower Dry Creek Fire
FEMA approved, on July 16th, the State of Oregon’s request for FMAG assistance for the Lower Dry Creek Fire burning in Umatilla County. Oregon requested FEMA assistance on July 15, the same day the fire started.
Between the time the fire began and the time of the request, the Lower Dry Creek Fire had already burned 5000 acres of federal, state, private, and tribal land, threatening 428 homes in addition to outbuildings, schools, fire stations, commercial buildings, radio and cell towers, natural gas and electrical utilities, and agricultural operations in the communities of Milton Freewater, Athena, Weston, Adams, and Tolgate.
Additionally, when Oregon made the request, the fire was 0 percent contained. FEMA determined that the Lower Dry Creek Fire threatened destruction that would constitute a major disaster without FEMA’s assistance and approved the state’s request.
Awaka Butte Fire
Oregon submitted another FMAG request on July 22 for the Akawa Butte Fire burning in Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. By the time of the request, the fire had burned nearly 14,000 acres of federal, state, and private land.
FEMA determined that if the fire continued without containment, it would constitute a major disaster, threatening nearly 700 primary homes, five fire stations, cellular towers, power lines, and power transmitters. FEMA approved Oregon’s request on July 23.
Grasshopper Fire
FEMA approved an FMAG request for the Grasshopper Fire affecting Wasco County on July 25, the same day Oregon made the request. Between the time the fire began on July 23 and the FMAG request, the fire burned 3,500 acres of federal land, was 0 percent contained, and threatened nearly 700 homes. The fire also threatened commercial and residential buildings, electric utilities, campgrounds and trails, BLM roads, and radio and cellular facilities around the communities of Tygh Valley, Wamic, Pine Hollow, and Sportsman’s Park.
FEMA determined that the Grasshopper Fire has the potential to become a major disaster and swiftly approved the request.
Once a fire threatens to become a major disaster, FEMA’s FMAG grants funds up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs. These costs can include expenses for materials, equipment use, and mobilization activities that support firefighting efforts.
With FEMA’s assistance, we are responding quickly to contain and control these fires. I will continue to work closely with FEMA and administration agencies as they support efforts to fight fires across Oregon.
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