Wildfires

March 15, 2008 -- The President yesterday declared an emergency exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on March 14, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

Adds 32 counties to list of areas threatened by fires

Feb. 29, 2008 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today renewed a disaster proclamation, originally issued Jan. 29, to address the threat of wildfires across the state. In the updated proclamation, 32 additional counties are identified as threatened or impacted by wildfires, making a total of 216 counties at risk. To date, fires have burned more than 500,000 acres and threatened 2,158 homes, destroyed 50 homes and damaged 35 homes.    » read more »

February 10, 2008 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia, directing state agencies to take all necessary actions to aid in the response to multiple wildfires that have broken out in numerous areas across the Commonwealth.

A declaration of emergency allows the Governor to immediately deploy state personnel, equipment, and other emergency response resources, and to coordinate state and local response to the event.    » read more »

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2008) – The Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) is sending personnel and equipment to Texas to assist with their current wildland fire emergency. A total of 10 division employees, comprising two tractor/plow strike teams, will report to Granbury, Texas tomorrow.    » read more »

Feb. 02, 2008 -- AUSTIN – In a letter sent to President George W. Bush, Texas Governor Rick Perry today requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas as a result of widespread wildfires and continuing fire danger across the state. The governor identified 184 Texas counties presently threatened or impacted by wildfires. To date, 75 wildfires have burned approximately 70,000 acres and destroyed 60 homes and structures.    » read more »

Jan. 30, 2008 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today issued a state disaster proclamation for 152 counties in response to the threat posed by wildfires rapidly spreading in areas across the state. Burn bans are already in place in these Texas counties. This disaster proclamation allows affected counties to be eligible for state assistance.    » read more »

January 29, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- Citing high winds, dry conditions and a series of recent wildfires, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a statewide burn ban for Oklahoma.

The governor’s office announced the decision Tuesday afternoon after reviewing weather data and discussing fire conditions with forestry officials in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

“We need to do everything we can to protect lives and property,” said Gov. Henry. “With the dry weather and high winds, conditions are very hazardous and even the smallest fire can quickly get out of control.    » read more »

1/28/2008, WASHINGTON , D.C. – The Cable Hope Fund, the non-profit foundation created to provide cable industry support for relief to victims of natural disasters, has donated $20,000 to the San Diego Food Bank and Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition to aid those affected by the fall 2007 wildfires in southern California. The donations were made possible by contributions from cable industry companies, organizations, and individuals wishing to provide support to the local communities affected by the devastation.    » read more »

01/25/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after a Blue Ribbon Task Force released their report on the devastating Southern California wildfires of 2007. The Governor requested the report in November to help assess how federal, state and local level governments can better prevent and fight future fires.    » read more »

January 15, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today joined Florida’s State Emergency Response Team members and water management and state fire officials to conduct the 2008 Drought and Wildfire Summit at the State Emergency Operations Center. The first-ever summit brought together local, state and federal officials to gain a better understanding of the current conditions and threats facing Florida and the Southeast.    » read more »

12/06/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger has directed the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) to prepare for the upcoming weather conditions that pose a serious threat of flooding, particularly in areas where the Southern California wildfires recently burned. OES is working with state and local officials to pre-position emergency assets, including swift water recue teams, watercraft and California National Guard (CNG) helicopters. The state has also opened emergency operation centers in Sacramento and Los Alamitos.    » read more »

December 5, 2007 -- Carson City— Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons announced today that his request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been granted for the entire State of Nevada.

On October 16, 2007, Governor Gibbons and the Nevada State Department of Agriculture sent a letter to Acting Secretary for the USDA Charles F. Conner, requesting federal assistance for the State of Nevada due to losses caused by drought and wildfires.    » read more »

Calls on All Levels of Government to Become Better Prepared; San Diego hearing held to gather facts to improve fire safety, firefighting, disaster aid

November 27, 2007 -- San Diego – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today chaired a field hearing here of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, to investigate the recent devastating wildfires that struck Southern California.    » read more »

25 November 2007 -- Firefighters battling a fast moving wildfire in southern California say the blaze is now about 40 percent contained, and should be fully under control by Tuesday.

When the fire began Saturday in the beach community of Malibu, strong winds and high temperatures helped spread the flames rapidly, forcing more than 10,000 people to leave their homes. Los Angeles County fire officials say the blaze has destroyed nearly 50 homes and scorched about 2,000 hectares of land.    » read more »

11/24/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement in response to the wildfires in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties:    » read more »