06/11/2008 GAAS:325:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Directs Coordinated State Effort to Fight Early California Wildfires
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has directed additional resources to
aggressively fight California's early wildfires through CAL FIRE and
the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) and activated the
DC-10 and DC-7 retardant dropping aircraft today.
"As numerous wildfires burn across the state, I am directing a
coordinated state effort to battle these blazes," Governor
Schwarzenegger said. "Time and again, our history has demonstrated that
we must move early, have the resources available and work together to
fight these fires and keep people safe. I commend our brave
firefighters for aggressively fighting these fires across the state,
and my heart goes out to the three CAL FIRE firefighters who have been
injured."
The three injured CAL FIRE firefighters are at UC Davis Medical
Center receiving treatment. Two were transported by air ambulance with
moderate to severe burns to the face and arms and a third was
transported by ground ambulance with minor facial burns. All three
firefighters were battling a 65-acre fire just west of Lincoln, which
is now contained.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services is closely monitoring
fire activity throughout the state and is working closely with CAL FIRE
and local jurisdictions to ensure they have access to the resources
needed to respond to wildfires and other weather-related disasters.
OES has deployed the following fire resources:
- One Operational Area Satellite Information System (OASIS) Trailer with telephone, data and communications equipment has been deployed to the Indian Fire to assist with fire communications.
- Four of the five new Type 3 wildland fire engines unveiled by Governor Schwarzenegger last week were prepositioned yesterday and sent to the La Grange fire in Tuolumne County today. These engines are part of a task force to provide additional firefighting resources throughout this Red Flag Warning, high fire danger period in northern California.
CAL FIRE has deployed the following fire and rescue resources and activated the following personnel:
- 1,227 CAL FIRE personnel
- 167 fire engines
- 51 crews
- 7 air tankers
- 22 bulldozers
- 8 helicopters
The following significant fires continue to burn in different parts of the state today:
- Indians Fire, Los Padres National Forest, Monterey County, which has burned 4,200 acres and is 10 percent contained.
- Ophir Fire is located at 293 Lone Tree near Palermo south of Oroville in Butte County, which has burned 1,600 acres and is 60 percent contained.
- La Grange Fire in the area of Cooperstown and La Grange in Tuolumne County, which has burned 800 acres and is 30 percent contained.
- Pine Fire in Sonoma County, which has burned 860 acres and is 80 percent contained.
For more information on these fires, go to www.oes.ca.gov or http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current.
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.
