FEMA approves federal funds to fight the Boulder View Fire in north Scottsdale

The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA approved a request by the state of Arizona to use federal funds to fight the Boulder View Fire, burning in north Scottsdale.

This means that local jurisdictions like the Tonto National Forest and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management could be eligible to get up to 75% of their firefighting expenses reimbursed by FEMA.

The Boulder View Fire began as a brush fire on June 27, and has since grown to 3,711 acres with 80% containment, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The wildfire triggered evacuation and pre-evacuation orders for homes in the area near Rio Verde. Those orders have since lapsed.

Arizona submitted a request on June 28 for one of FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grants, which comes out of the agency's Disaster Relief Fund to help fight fires with the potential to become bigger incidents. FEMA approved the grant that same day.

FEMA said some of the costs that local jurisdictions can expense under the grant include field camps, the use of equipment, materials and supplies, and the mobilization of fire crews to combat the flames. Under FEMA's guidelines, Arizona is responsible for covering the remaining 25% of expenses.

This is the third Fire Management Assistance Grant approved in the 2024 wildfire season. In addition to the Boulder View Fire, FEMA is also covering the majority of the costs to fight the Rose Fire near Wickenburg and the Simmons Fire north of Kearny. Both of those wildfires have been fully contained.