Section 204.21 - Fire management assistance declaration criteria(a)Determinations. FEMA will approve declarations for fire management assistance when the Administrator determines that a fire or fire complex on public or private forest land or grassland threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.(b)Evaluation criteria. FEMA will evaluate the threat posed by a fire or fire complex based on consideration of the following specific criteria:(1) Threat to lives and improved property, including threats to critical facilities/infrastructure, and critical watershed areas;(2) Availability of State and local firefighting resources;(3) High fire danger conditions, as indicated by nationally accepted indices such as the National Fire Danger Ratings System;(4) Potential major economic impact. 66 FR 57347 , Nov. 14, 2001, as amended at 75 FR 50715 , Aug. 17, 2010; 79 FR 63546 , Oct. 24, 2014