06/23/2008 Print Version |
WHEREAS numerous wildfires known as the Basin Complex Fire have been burning in the County of Monterey, including the Indians Fire which began to burn on June 8, 2008 in the Los Padres National Forest area, and the Gallery Fire which began to burn on June 21, 2008 in the Big Sur area; and
WHEREAS the fires are not yet contained and are being driven by dry conditions and high winds, and these conditions are expected to continue; and
WHEREAS at least 57,000 acres have already burned due to the Indians Fire and some 2,000 acres have burned due to the Gallery Fire, causing imminent danger to a large number of residential and commercial property and structures and resulting in widespread evacuations; and
WHEREAS on June 20, 2008, lightning strikes ignited a series of wildfires, known as the Lime Complex Fire, in the County of Trinity, and the wildfires continue to burn; and
WHEREAS the Lime Complex Fire consists of more than 70 separate wildfires, ranging in size from 1 to 400 acres, which are driven by continuing dry conditions and wind; and
WHEREAS the Lime Complex Fire has burned more than 4,000 acres, is not yet contained, and is threatening 1,200 residences and 300 outbuildings, as well as several youth camps and requiring evacuations; and
WHEREAS on June 22, 2008, the County of Monterey declared a local emergency, based on the fires' continuing and imminent threat to persons and property; and
WHEREAS on June 23, 2008, the County of Trinity declared a local emergency, based on the fires' continuing and imminent threat to persons and property; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of these wildfires, 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 fires in the counties of Monterey and Trinity.
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 counties of Monterey and Trinity.
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 23rd Day of June 2008.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California
ATTEST:
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State
