Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004 | 10:56 a.m.
SUN CAPITAL BUEAU
CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said today he asked President Bush to issue a disaster declaration for the fire that burned more than 8,700 acres of forest and sagebrush near Carson City and destroyed at least 17 homes.
Guinn said White House officials have agreed to act promptly on the request. If the fire is declared a disaster, the federal government would provide a 75 percent reimbursement for costs in fighting the blaze and rehabilitating the burned area.
Total expenditures are expected to exceed $10.8 million, and that doesn't include the loss or damage to the homes and businesses involved, the governor said.
The governor also said the state is looking into other financial programs that may help homeowners and private businesses affected by the Waterfall Fire. One business was destroyed.
Guinn said an assessment shows the municipal water supply to Carson City "has been severely compromised by damage to numerous intake, recharge and storage structures through the watershed." And the pipeline supplying both Carson City and Virginia City is at risk of damage or rupture from erosion or runoff, he said.
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