Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles County and Monterey County due to wildfires that have burned approximately 13,000 acres, threatened structures, destroyed homes and forced hundreds of people to be evacuated and sent to emergency shelters.

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

The text of the proclamation is below:

A PROCLAMATION

OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on August 26, 2009, fires started in Los Angeles County and continue to burn; and

WHEREAS on August 27, 2009, fires stared in Monterey County and continue to burn; and

WHEREAS the fires have burned approximately 13,000 acres, and have threatened structures, destroyed homes, and have forced hundreds of people to be evacuated and sent to emergency shelters; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of these fires, 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 exist due to the fires in Los Angeles and Monterey Counties.

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 Los Angeles and Monterey Counties.

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 California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) and the State Emergency Plan, and that CalEMA 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 28th Day of August 2009.

______________________________

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor of California

ATTEST:

_______________________________

DEBRA BOWEN

Secretary of State