FEMA authorizes funds to fight 1,323 acre Texas Fire in Latah and Nez Perce counties

LATAH COUNTY, Idaho - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allowed federal funds to be used to help fight the Texas Fire in Latah and Nez Perce Counties.

This is the first FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant to be issued this year in the state.

FEMA administrators said the Texas Fire threatened to cause massive destruction and could lead to a major disaster for the region.

Idaho Department of Lands said the Texas Fire is 1,323 acres with no containment as of the last update.

Homes, cell towers, radio towers, private transmission lines, and agriculture areas near Kendrick are still threatened by the fire.

So far, four structures have been lost.

Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations remain in place for the areas of Cedar Ridge from Highway 3 to Linden Road, Linden Road to South Park Road and Texas Ridge Road and East Road to Sundstrom Road.

Level 2 (Be Set) evacuations are in place for the areas of Texas Ridge and Sundstrom Road to Highway 3, Cedar Ridge Road at Linden Road to Three Bear Road and all houses west of 1210 Cedar Ridge Road.

Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations are in place for any houses two miles outside of the Level 2 evacuation area.

The funding will cover up to 75% of the state's eligible firefighting costs, including equipment use, mobilizing firefighting units, and field camp expenses. The grant does not provide help to individuals and does not cover infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. If you have information about what might have caused the fire , contact the Latah County Sheriff's Office at 208-882-2216 extension 4.

An incident management team is expected to take command of the fire Thursday morning.

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