Brewer plans to appeal Feds’ decision on Yarnell Fire
Aug 18, 2013, 2:18 PM | Updated: 2:19 pm
PHOENIX — New developments in the fight to get federal funding for the Yarnell Hill fire victims revealed on KTAR’s Jay Lawrence show.
“We’re not giving up, we’re getting all our ducks in a row,” Brewer told KTAR. “We’re going to appeal.”
Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the governor’s request to declare the area a major disaster area which would have included additional federal funding. In a letter to Brewer, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the state, local communities and volunteer agencies are capable of helping uninsured homeowners replace and rebuild their homes.
But, Brewer told KTAR that Texas was also denied federal aid earlier this year after a fertilizer plant explosion leveled homes and killed 15 people.
“And the governor was able to appeal it and he won,” she said. “Because it doesn’t just fit into their little box, so to speak.”
Nineteen firefighters were killed fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire and more than 130 homes were damaged or destroyed in the fire south of Prescott.
Arizona has until early next month to formally appeal.
