Federal dollars secured to aid River Fire response

SACRAMENTO (KION-TV) New assistance could be coming to areas hard hit by the River Fire in Monterey County and the agencies on the front lines.

The California Governor's Office announced it 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 River Fire burning in Monterey County.

According to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom's office, FMAG, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on a cost-share basis. It will assist local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75-percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.

The River Fire has burned 2,800 acres since it began Sunday causing numerous evacuations. As of Monday afternoon it was only 10% contained

At least 5 structures have burned and hundreds have been threatened in the area of Pine Canyon, Indian Springs and Las Palmas.

The National Weather Service had issued Red Flag Warnings for the area as sustained high winds have made an ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions. The warning was allowed to expire Monday morning in Monterey and San Benito counties.