10/15/2008 GAAS:719:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Declares State of Emergency in San Bernardino County Due to Wildfires
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger today declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County
due to fires that have burned along the Interstate 215 corridor in the City of San Bernardino and in
other areas of the county.
Earlier
this week, the Governor declared a state of
emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to wildfires.
The
Governor's Office of Emergency Services has activated the State
Operations Center
at its Sacramento
headquarters. For more information, including evacuation centers and wildfire
statistics, go to www.oes.ca.gov or www.calfire.ca.gov.
Full
text of emergency proclamation:
A PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS on and after October 12, 2008, wildfires broke
out in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
and these wildfires continue to spread; and
WHEREAS on October 13, 2008, I
proclaimed a state of emergency in the counties of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to these
wildfires; and
WHEREAS on and after October
13, 2008, several fires also broke out in San Bernardino County;
and
WHEREAS the fires are being driven by high winds, and
these conditions are expected to continue; and
WHEREAS the fires have burned along the Interstate 215
corridor in the City of San Bernardino
and in other areas of the county; and
WHEREAS the County
of San Bernardino has activated its Emergency Operations Center
to support fire suppression efforts; and
WHEREAS the fires have destroyed at least one residence
and a commercial building; and
WHEREAS the County
of San Bernardino has historically
experienced wildfires during Santa Ana
wind conditions; and
WHEREAS on October 13, 2008, the City of San Bernardino issued a
local proclamation of emergency; and
WHEREAS on October 14, 2008, the County of San
Bernardino issued a local proclamation of emergency, requesting that I issue a
state proclamation of emergency; 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 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, because of the
wildfires, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist
in the County of San Bernardino.
NOW,
THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State
of California, in accordance with the
authority vested in me by the State Constitution and 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 San Bernardino.
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 my 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 15th Day of
October 2008.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California
ATTEST:
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State
