California Gov. Proclaims State of Emergency in Santa Clara County Due to Summit Fire Crossing County Lines

05/24/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued another proclamation related to the Summit Fire after flames crossed into Santa Clara County. The Governor issued a similar proclamation on Thursday for Santa Cruz County.

Smoke from the Summit fire seen from Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, May 22, 2008: Photo by lemurdillo (CC)

"I visited the Summit Fire Camp yesterday to thank the dedicated and hard working firefighters who are aggressively battling this blaze and to make sure they have every resource needed to fight this fire. We are issuing another proclamation for Santa Clara County, now that the fire has unfortunately crossed the Santa Cruz County line, so both counties will have all the resources necessary to continue combating the Summit Fire. My administration is working closely with federal and local officials and we will continue to mobilize and coordinate all fire fighting resources."

On May 9, 2008, the Governor issued Executive Order S-03-08, which boosted the state's preparedness for wildfire season and directed the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to immediately mobilize critical firefighting resources and personnel to save lives and homes statewide.

The full text of the proclamation follows:

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS a wildfire known as the Summit Fire began burning on May 22, 2008, and is continuing to burn; and

WHEREAS over 3,300 acres have already burned, including residential property and structures, and there is imminent danger to additional homes and structures; and

WHEREAS on May 22, 2008, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the County of Santa Cruz due to the Summit Fire; and

WHEREAS on May 22, 2008, my Office of Emergency Services requested a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant for the fire, which has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to rapidly attack the fire and reimburse critical emergency response costs; and

WHEREAS the Summit Fire jumped the county line and spread to the County of Santa Clara, and is threatening additional homes and structures; and

WHEREAS on May 24, 2008, the County of Santa Clara declared a local emergency, based on the wildfire; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this wildfire, 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 conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the fire in the County of Santa Clara.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including 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 County of Santa Clara.

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 the 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 24th Day of May 2008.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

ATTEST:

DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State

Source: California Governor