California Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Santa Barbara County due to Wildfire

08/03/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a State of Emergency in Santa Barbara County in response to the Zaca Fire that has burned more than 38,000 acres, threatening property, ranches and other structures.

Below is the full text of the Governor’s emergency proclamation:

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A PROCLAMATION
OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on July 4, 2007, wildfires began in Santa Barbara County, and such wildfires are continuing to date; and

WHEREAS the wildfires have been designated as the Zaca Fire; and

WHEREAS the Zaca Fire has burned more than thirty-eight thousand acres and there is imminent danger of additional threat to property, ranches and other structures; and

WHEREAS residents were evacuated as a result of the Zaca Fire and evacuation orders remain in effect; and

WHEREAS the terrain and size of the Zaca Fire have posed a fire fighting challenge and containment has not been achieved; and

WHEREAS on August 3, 2007, Santa Barbara County declared a local emergency and requested that I declare a state of emergency due to the continuing emergency conditions caused by the Zaca Fire; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of the Zaca Fire, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provision of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the Zaca Fire.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Santa Barbara County.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 3rd Day of August 2007.

______________________________
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

ATTEST:

_______________________________
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State

Source: California Governor