Wildfires

Reinforces Strong Commitment To Capture Arsonists

10/27/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today reinforced the state and law enforcement’s strong commitment to capturing the criminals responsible for intentionally setting at least two of the devastating southern California fires. The Governor also discussed further actions the state is taking to protect southern California fire victims by helping to ensure that they are not taken advantage of during the rebuilding and recovery process.    » read more »

October 26, 2007, DENVER, Colo. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sent personnel and equipment from Denver to assist with wildfire response and recovery efforts in California.    » read more »

26 October 2007, Washington (By Ray McDonald) -- Marie Osmond says her fainting spell on the October 22 episode of ABC's Dancing With The Stars resulted from wildfires currently plaguing Southern California.

Speaking to the entertainment television show Access Hollywood, the 48-year-old singer/actress said "The air quality is really bad and I have allergies really bad so maybe that was it. I am a singer. I don't know why I should have been winded. We have done it six, seven times in a row no problem."    » read more »

10/26/2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Cable Hope Fund, a non-profit foundation created in 2005 to provide cable industry support for relief to victims of natural disasters, immediately will begin accepting financial donations from cable industry companies, organizations, and individuals to provide support and aid to those affected by the recent devastating wildfires in southern California, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) said today.    » read more »

October 25, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As federal, state and local firefighters make continued progress fighting the Southern California wildfires, individuals in shelters and those who have returned home can look to available federal assistance to aid them in their recovery. After calling their insurance companies and filing a claim, if necessary, residents who were displaced or whose homes sustained damage are being urged to apply for aid by calling or by registering online.    » read more »

Service to Help California Families Find Foster Homes for Pets

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 25 -- In an effort to help families affected by the disastrous California wildfires, Petfinder.com, the largest online database of adoptable pets, announced today that it has initiated a call center service to help displaced families find temporary homes for their pets.    » read more »

Broadcast partner KCAL9/KCBS2 to aid in effort that will collect monetary donations at Dodger Stadium for the American Red Cross

10/25/2007, LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers and broadcast partner KCAL9/KCBS2 will hold a joint fundraising effort at Dodger Stadium to collect funds for the American Red Cross and aid in the emergency assistance for the hundreds of thousands of Southern California residents affected by the recent wildfires.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Thursday, October 25, 2007 — Toyota announced today that it will be donating $2 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for the California wildfires. This is one of the largest financial gifts the Red Cross has received for the California wildfires. Toyota is also donating Toyota lift trucks and palette jacks that will be used to unload and distribute relief supplies.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Thursday, October 25, 2007 — The American Red Cross today announced that the Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation has generously donated $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund allows the Red Cross to provide immediate emergency assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters each year, disasters like the wildfires in Southern California. Additionally, the Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation will match employee contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for up to $1.5 million in support of Red Cross California wildfire relief efforts.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Thursday, October 25, 2007 — Responding to the devastating aftermath of the wildfires that have blazed across California, Wal-Mart has donated $1,000,000 to American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. In addition, Wal-Mart is also providing its customers with the opportunity to help by initiating a customer donation program in Wal-Mart stores across California.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (10/25/2007) - The Santa Ana winds in Southern California are subsiding, allowing firefighters – both military and civilian – to make progress against wildfires that are rampaging through the area, California National Guard officials said.

C-130 airplanes equipped with modular air firefighting systems have flown five sorties and dropped almost 84,000 gallons of fire retardant since California officials activated them yesterday, National Guard Bureau officials said. The aircraft hit the Poomacha fire, northeast of San Diego.    » read more »

Oct. 25, 2007 -- LOS ANGELES – The Coast Guard continues to provide assistance to area firefighters and rescue personnel in their ongoing efforts to battle the blazes in Southern California. So far the Coast Guard has:

-- Personnel have been assigned to work in the Joint Field Office in Pasadena, the San Diego County Emergency Operations Center and at the Harris Ranch Fire.

-- A Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station Sacramento, Calif. flew two flights into San Diego carrying a total of 3,000 cots and blankets for FEMA's use with aiding evacuees.    » read more »

October 24, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer flew to San Diego today to meet with wildfire evacuees, volunteers and National Guard troops at Qualcomm Stadium to see and hear firsthand what the people of Southern California are going through and what more needs to be done.

Boxer said, “What I saw today was very emotional and touching. People from all walks of life are coming together to help one another through this disaster.”    » read more »

October 24, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today about President Bush signing a declaration that the wildfires in Southern California have created a major federal disaster area:

"The thoughts and prayers of our entire nation today are with California: with the firefighters risking life and limb to protect others, and with the many who have lost so much.    » read more »

FDNY Incident Management Team Has Also Been Activated and Deployed to California

October 25, 2007 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno announced today that OEM is sending an experienced five- member emergency management team to California to assist in wildfire-related operations. The OEM team will join the New York City Fire Department (FDNY ) members who have already deployed to California.    » read more »