08/30/2009 GAAS:480:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |

Gov. Schwarzenegger Directs Firefighting Resources to Battle Ongoing Fires Throughout State

Visits Station Fire in Los Angeles County for Briefing

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today visited the Station fire in Los Angeles County to receive a briefing on the status of firefighting efforts statewide. The Station fire began on August 26 and has burned approximately 20,102 acres and is five percent contained.

"California has the best and bravest firefighters on the front lines protecting our residents," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "I am confident California has emergency response resources in place to ensure the heroic men and woman fighting these fires have the resources they need. We are proud to provide access to any state resources needed to the U.S. Forest Service while they battle the Station fire. My Administration works hard year-round to ensure that our state is ready for fire season."

On Friday, the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey Counties due to wildfires.

In May, Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-05-09, mobilizing the California Department of Forestry and CAL FIRE to secure and deploy the additional resources and personnel necessary to save lives and protect homes from wildfires in this fire season.

In addition to the Station fire, there are nine other fires burning throughout the state including the Day Incident in Lassen County, PV fire and Morris Incident in Los Angeles County, Big Meadow fire in Mariposa County, Gloria Incident in Monterey County, Cottonwood fire in Riverside County, Pacheco fire in Santa Clara County and Harrington and Red Rock Incident in Siskiyou County.

Under the CalEMA Master Mutual Aid Agreement, California has provided approximately 1,400 firefighters and sent 265 fire engines - over half of the engines there - to help fight the Station fire.

The following state, federal and local personnel and assets have been activated and are deployed to assist with firefighting efforts statewide:

6,458 Fire Personnel
437 Fire Engines
175 Hand Crews
51 Helicopters
7 Fixed Winged Aircraft
60 Bulldozers
87 Water Tenders

Military and Out of State Resources:

At this time, there are no California National Guard assets assigned to the fires.
Cal EMA and CAL FIRE currently utilizing no out of state resources. The U.S. Forest Service may be utilizing out of state resources on federal responsible area fires.

Additional fire information includes:

Approximately 54,849 acres have burned since August 21, 2009.
There have been 13 firefighter injuries.
There are three injuries from burns received by residents of Big Tujunga Canyon who did not heed evacuation orders for the Station fire. The residents have been hospitalized.
10,175 residential structures, 553 commercial building and 2,055 outbuildings are threatened.
Three residential structures have been damaged.
Four residential structures and three outbuildings have been destroyed.
There have been 5,401 fires to date with 121,140 acres burned in areas of state and local firefighting responsibility, compared to 4,231 fires and 353,203 acres burned at this time last year

For more information on these fires, go to www.oes.ca.gov or http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current.