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 is intended to help offset costs related to firefighting operations as local officials and firefighters responded to the blaze. “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.”
As of Monday morning, authorities reported that approximately 234 acres had burned but that the fire was fully contained. The incident prompted evacuation orders for about 340 homes and threatened more than 2,160 homes nearby. State and local personnel remain engaged in suppression, containment, and public safety efforts.
With approval of this grant, Texas becomes eligible for reimbursement from the federal government covering up to 75 percent of eligible wildfire suppression costs. These grants are available to states and local jurisdictions for fires that threaten to 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 areas.
According to the official website, Governor Abbott’s office has contributed to job growth in Texas, maintained its main offices in Austin at the State Insurance Building, earned recognition when Abbott was listed among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024, focused on economic opportunities and education enhancement among other priorities, exercised statewide authority since his election in 2014, and delivers services throughout Texas.
Texans seeking information or resources related to wildfires can visit disaster.texas.gov for safety tips, current fire updates, and damage reporting tools.
