Washington Wildfire Emergency Declared

President Obama declared a wildfire emergency in Washington state on Thursday, making additional federal resources available to help restore power to thousands of residents affected by the fires and by assisting with debris removal. Six Fire Management Assistance grants from FEMA, as well as support from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal agencies have already been provided. The emergency declaration does not provide financial assistance to the state or disaster survivors, though damage assessments are underway to determine if the state qualifies for such assistance.