Governor Greg Abbott announced on Mar. 18 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Corner Pocket Fire in Donley County, Texas. The fire, which affected the Texas Panhandle over the weekend, damaged homes and infrastructure and led to local evacuations.
The grant will help cover costs related to firefighting operations as local officials and firefighters responded to the wildfire. “The state of Texas is working swiftly to provide additional funding to local officials and firefighters who battled the Corner Pocket Fire in Donley County over the weekend,” Abbott said. “This FEMA grant will help offset costs associated with firefighting operations as our brave firefighters battle blazes and protect the citizens of this great state. While this fire now contained, I encourage Texans to heed the guidance of local officials and take all necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe as increased wildfire danger continues.”Â
As of Monday morning, an estimated 234 acres had burned but the fire was reported as fully contained. Approximately 340 homes were evacuated during the incident, while more than 2,160 homes were threatened in surrounding areas. State and local personnel remain engaged in suppression, containment, and public safety efforts.
The approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant makes Texas eligible for reimbursement from the federal government for up to 75 percent of eligible wildfire suppression costs. These grants are available to states and local jurisdictions facing fires that could become major disasters.
The Texas State Emergency Operations Center remains at Level III (Increased Readiness), with emergency response resources deployed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management across affected regions. Texans can access wildfire safety tips, current fire information, and damage reporting tools through the TDEM Disaster Portal at disaster.texas.gov.
According to the official website, Governor Abbott’s office has contributed to job growth in Texas and maintained its main offices in Austin at the State Insurance Building. The office also received recognition when Abbott was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 according to its official website. Since his election in 2014, Abbott has led statewide services focusing on job creation, economic opportunities, education enhancement, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling, and southern border security according to official sources.
