HARTFORD, CT - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved his request for Connecticut to receive a grant through its Fire Management Assistance Grant program to support the state and its municipalities in their emergency response to the Hawthorne Fire in Berlin.

The response to this fire is ongoing, however initial estimates indicate that the state’s costs will exceed the grant program’s necessary $330,000 threshold. Under this grant program, FEMA will provide a 75% reimbursement of the eligible costs of its emergency response to this fire. Some of the state’s more significant costs include utilizing aircrew from the Connecticut National Guard and its UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to conduct water drops at the site.

“This is one of the most significant brush fires Connecticut has experienced in recent memory, which is largely due to the very dry conditions and lack of rain we have experienced in recent weeks,” Governor Lamont said. “I thank FEMA and the Biden-Harris administration for their rapid response to my request and their continuing partnership with Connecticut to ensure that we can support the resources we need to keep this area safe. I’m also grateful to the many firefighters from departments throughout the region, the aircrew from the Connecticut National Guard, and other first responders who have been working tirelessly day and night on this emergency situation.”

This is the first time Connecticut has ever been approved for a grant under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant program.