The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Moose Peak Fire and Highway 200 Complex in Sanders and Lincoln Counties.  KTVQ.com reports that FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Nancy Dragani approved the request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant after receiving Montana’s request Sunday evening.  At the time, the fire was threatening 925 homes and businesses in and around Plains, Montana.

The fire is also threatening buildings, power transmission and telephone transmission lines, cellular towers, the Conoco Phillips Gas pipeline, buildings, equipment and the Clark Fork River watershed in the area.  The fire started on August 30.  The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.

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