Riverside County to receive federal grant to offset Banning fire costs

The federal government will cover around three-quarters of the costs of fighting a roughly 3,000-acre wildfire near Banningthat destroyed a home and threatened hundreds more, it was announced today.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a Cal Fire request forreimbursement of expenses tied to “managing, mitigating and controlling” theSummit Fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon and was 65 percent containedtoday.

According to FEMA, the wildfire is considered a major disaster andtherefore federal disaster relief funds can be applied toward firefighting andrecovery efforts. Any disbursal would be limited to 75 percent of the totalcosts, federal officials said.

At its height, the Summit Fire threatened 450 residences and severalhigh-power transmission lines in Cherry Valley. A mobile home park wasevacuated and roads in the area were shut down. Two firefighters suffered minorinjuries while battling the blaze.

All evacuation orders have since been lifted. There was no word on whenthe fire would be completely contained.