UPDATE: Governor Brown declares State of Emergency in San Diego County

(UPDATE 5-14-2014)

SACRAMENTO - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for San Diego County following recent wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and other structures, damaged critical infrastructure and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The full text of the emergency proclamation is below:

A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS wildfires started on May 13, 2014 in the County of San Diego that are currently burning and have burned over 2,000 acres; and

WHEREAS the fires have destroyed structures, including homes, and continue to threaten homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents; and

WHEREAS the fires have damaged and continue to threaten critical infrastructure, including power lines, and have forced the closure of major highways and local roads; and

WHEREAS extremely dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds make these fires difficult to contain and are causing the fire to spread rapidly; and

WHEREAS a Fire Management Assistant Grant has been requested and approved for the Poinsettia Fire on May 14, 2014; and

WHEREAS on May 14, 2014, the County of San Diego declared a local emergency to exist county-wide and requested that I proclaim a state 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 conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exists within the County of San Diego due to these events.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., 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 San Diego.

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 Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all citizens are to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.

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 14th day of May 2014.

(Original Story)

The County of San Diego has just released a notice that a local emergency has been proclaimed for the town of Fallbrook, Camp Pendleton military base, and city of Carlsbad due to the wildland fires currently burning.

The County has requested that Governor Brown declare a state of emergency so that the County can more easily access state and federal resources as needed to help in fighting the fires.

The proclamation states that more than 20 structures, including homes, have been destroyed.