Wildfires

23 October 2007 -- Nearly a million people have fled their homes as more than a dozen fires continue to burn in Southern California. At least two people have died. President Bush will visit California Thursday. Fire has destroyed more than 1,000 homes in San Diego, and hundreds in other parts of the state.

High gusty winds and hot, dry weather are fanning the wildfires, which have broken out from the Mexican border to Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles.    » read more »

October 23, 2007 -- The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on October 21, 2007, and continuing.    » read more »

October 23, 2007 -- (Santa Fe, NM) – Today New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson ordered two strike teams consisting of 5 Type 1 fire engines per unit and 21 crew members per team to California to assist in structure protection. The teams are made up of fire departments from throughout New Mexico and are expected to depart Albuquerque by nightfall.    » read more »

October 23, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As fires continue to rage throughout communities in Southern California, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is swiftly mobilizing federal resources and assets in coordination with the state of California and other federal agencies. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison traveled to the affected area today to meet with state officials and asses the federal response to the wildfires.    » read more »

October 23, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today encouraged the approximately 800 state employees who are certified in American Red Cross (ARC) disaster relief training to go to California and help in the wildfire relief effort if they are contacted by the ARC.    » read more »

October 23, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that the President declared an emergency exists in the state of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on October 21, 2007, and continuing.    » read more »

Secures Additional Federal and State Assistance

10/22/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today coordinated state, local and federal efforts to fight the devastating wildfires in Southern California and provide emergency services to displaced Californians.

“The devastation I witnessed today in Southern California was overwhelming. These devastating fires have taken a life and injured four firefighters. Maria and I extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.    » read more »

10/22/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to President Bush requesting direct federal assistance, debris removal and emergency protective measures, including: firefighting, evacuation operations, and sheltering of displaced people and animals for the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura due to the Southern California wildfires.

October 22, 2007

Via Nancy Ward

Regional Director

FEMA Region IX

1111 Broadway Street, Suite 1200

Oakland, California 95607    » read more »

10/22/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today directed inmate firefighters and staff from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to deploy across Southern California to work hand-in-hand with state and local firefighters. As of today, more than 2,300 CDCR inmates and more than 170 custody staff have joined firefighters from city and county fire departments and state agencies as part of a major coordinated effort to battle the widespread wildfires in Southern California.    » read more »

10/22/2007 -- Following a request California Governor Schwarzenegger made today to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the federal government has announced that six aircraft with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) units will be directed to assist in fighting the fires in Southern California.    » read more »

10/22/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California National Guard (CNG) to make 1500 guardsmen available to support the firefighting efforts in Southern California. The 1500 guardsmen, including 200 troops currently patrolling the California/Mexico border, will be deployed at the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to areas where they can have the greatest impact.    » read more »

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.    » read more »

Frankfort, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2007) — Spotty rain showers in some parts of Kentucky have not reduced the severe risk of wildfire across the state, according to Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC) and Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF).

Hill also urged Kentucky residents to abide by the statewide outdoor burning ban issued by Governor Ernie Fletcher last week.    » read more »

Drought conditions create hazardous conditions

October 04, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has signed an executive order banning all outdoor burning across the Commonwealth as the extreme drought situation has created extraordinarily hazardous wildfire conditions in Kentucky.

A severe fall forest fire season is already underway and the drought conditions statewide prompted Governor Fletcher’s action.    » read more »

October 2, 2007 -- (BOISE) – Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, during a meeting in his office today with Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, signed a four-state agreement pledging cooperation with Wyoming, Utah and Nevada on actions to prevent catastrophic wildfires and rehabilitate burned acreage.    » read more »