05/24/2008 GAAS:286:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Santa Clara County Due to Summit Fire Crossing County Lines
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today
issued another proclamation related to the Summit Fire after flames crossed into
Santa Clara
County. The Governor issued
a similar proclamation on Thursday for
Santa Cruz
County.
"I visited the Summit Fire Camp yesterday
to thank the dedicated and hard working firefighters who are aggressively
battling this blaze and to make sure they have every resource needed to fight
this fire. We are issuing another proclamation for Santa Clara County, now that the fire has unfortunately crossed
the Santa Cruz
County line, so both
counties will have all the resources necessary to continue combating the Summit
Fire. My administration is working closely with federal and local officials and
we will continue to mobilize and coordinate all fire fighting
resources."
On May 9, 2008, the
Governor issued Executive Order S-03-08, which
boosted the state's preparedness for wildfire season and directed the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to immediately mobilize
critical firefighting resources and personnel to save lives and homes statewide.
The full text of the proclamation
follows:
A
PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS a wildfire known
as the Summit Fire began burning on May 22, 2008, and is continuing to burn;
and
WHEREAS over 3,300 acres
have already burned, including residential property and structures, and there is
imminent danger to additional homes and structures; and
WHEREAS on May 22, 2008, I
proclaimed a state of emergency in the County of Santa Cruz due to the Summit
Fire; and
WHEREAS on May 22, 2008, my
Office of Emergency Services requested a federal Fire Management Assistance
Grant for the fire, which has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to rapidly
attack the fire and reimburse critical emergency response costs;
and
WHEREAS the Summit Fire
jumped the county line and spread to the County of Santa
Clara, and is threatening additional homes and
structures; and
WHEREAS on May 24, 2008,
the County of
Santa Clara declared a
local emergency, based on the wildfire; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of
this wildfire, by reason of their magnitude, are 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
conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to
the fire in the County of Santa
Clara.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER, 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 within the County of Santa Clara.
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 the 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 24th Day of May
2008.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California
ATTEST:
DEBRA
BOWEN
Secretary of State
