Gov. Brewer appeals FEMA decision to not help Yarnell
Sep 4, 2013, 12:36 PM | Updated: 12:37 pm
PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer has appealed FEMA’s decision to deny declaring the Yarnell Hill Wildfire a major disaster.
Brewer said the area was devastated by the June wildfire that took the lives of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters along with more than 100 homes.
“In our opinion this is a disaster,” Brewer said. “The people of Yarnell are elderly, underinsured or without insurance. They are desperate. I ask the president to do the right thing and help these natural disaster victims rebuild their lives and move forward with the healing.”
Brewer did not specify a price tag on the cost of rebuilding Yarnell or how much in the way of federal dollars she is seeking.
Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar represents the affected area and said this issue is instrumental to Arizona and the rest of the west where fires seem to be getting more devastating each year.
“I hope for a speedy appeal and we get support to the people of Yarnell and the families,” Gosar said.
Arizona U.S. House members Trent Franks, Ann Kirkpatrick and Kyrsten Sinema were also in attendance.
vernor signed the appeal documents.
