SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for the state of California due to the effects of wildfires in El Dorado, Amador, Butte, Humboldt, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta and Siskiyou counties that have burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and other structures and damaged critical infrastructure.
The full text of the emergency proclamation is below:
A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS on July 25, 2014, wildfires started in El Dorado and Amador Counties, and thereafter a series of fires started in the counties of Butte, Humboldt, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, and Siskiyou. As of August 1, 2014, seventeen fires were burning throughout the State, including one that crossed over from the State of Oregon into California. These fires have burned thousands of acres of land and continue to burn; and
WHEREAS the fires have destroyed structures, including homes, and continue to threaten homes, necessitating the evacuation of hundreds of residents; and
WHEREAS the fires have damaged and continue to threaten critical infrastructure, including power lines, and have forced the closure of major highways and local roads; and
WHEREAS on January 17, 2014, I declared a State of Emergency based on the extreme drought that has persisted in the State. The drought conditions have increased the State’s risk of wildfires. Recent lightning storms and high temperatures have further increased this risk and the spread of additional wildfires; and
WHEREAS as a result of the numerous fires burning throughout the State, combined with the drought conditions, California’s air quality has significantly deteriorated; and
WHEREAS a Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) has been requested and approved for the Eiler Fire near the Community of Hat Creek in Shasta County; and
WHEREAS by virtue of the number of fires burning simultaneously, the State’s resources have been significantly committed such that the State will seek the assistance and resources of other states, as necessary, pursuant to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Public Law 104-321, Government Code sections 179 through 179.9; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of these wildfires, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single local government 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 exists in Northern California due to these events
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., 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 in the State of California due to the wildfires burning in Northern California.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. 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 Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all citizens are to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.
2. The California National Guard shall mobilize under California Military and Veterans Code section 146 (mobilization in case of catastrophic fires) to support disaster response and relief efforts and coordinate with all relevant state agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services, and all relevant state and local emergency responders and law enforcement within the impacted areas.
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 2nd day of August 2014.
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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
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DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State