California Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Southern California Counties Due to Wildfires

10/21/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger tonight proclaimed a State of Emergency in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura due to more than eleven major wildfires. Throughout the region, more than 30,000 acres have already burned, and more areas are threatened. The wildfires have caused the loss of human life and serious injuries. They have burned a number of homes, businesses and other structures. Residents have been evacuated in dangerous areas.

The Governor’s emergency proclamation allows the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deploy emergency personnel, equipment and facilities and provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act. Below is the full text:

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A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS on October 21, 2007, there are more than eleven major wildfires burning in southern California; and

WHEREAS the wildfires are being driven by dry conditions and high winds, and these conditions are expected to continue for several days; and

WHEREAS more than 20,000 acres have already burned, and more areas are threatened; and

WHEREAS the wildfires have already caused the loss of human life and serious injuries; and

WHEREAS homes, businesses and other structures have burned; and

WHEREAS residents have been evacuated in many communities and several highways and local roads have been closed; and

WHEREAS the wildfires have disrupted a major electrical transmission line and caused power outages; and

WHEREAS on October 21, 2007, my Office of Emergency Services requested federal Fire Management Assistance Grants for many of the fires to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to rapidly attack the fires and reimburse critical emergency response costs; and

WHEREAS some counties have already issued local proclamations of emergency regarding the wildfires, requesting that I issue a state proclamation of emergency, and more local proclamations of emergency are anticipated; and

WHEREAS these wildfires, 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 provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that, because of the wildfires, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

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 the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

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 21st Day of October 2007.

______________________________

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor of California

ATTEST:

_______________________________

DEBRA BOWEN

Secretary of State

Source: California Governor