CULVER, OR -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to help with fighting the Akawana Fire in Jefferson County. The agency determined the fire threatened destruction that would constitute a major disaster. The money was approved Wednesday night, through a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant. 

At the time of the request, the blaze was zero percent contained and threatened 1,000 homes in and around the Grandview, Forest Park and Three Rivers subdivisions, with an estimated population of 3,000 people. About 250 of them are primary residences; the other 750 are secondary, or vacation homes. The wildfire also threatened campsites, the Lake Billy Chinook State Airport, Native American archeological sites and two state parks. 

The fire was first spotted Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday night had grown to nearly 2,000 acres. Wednesday afternoon, Governor Kate Brown invoked the Conflagration Act, authorizing state resources to help in the effort. By Thursday morning fire crews had the Akawana Fire 30% contained.