Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the central California, United States, coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The terrain offers stunning views, making Big Sur a popular tourist destination. Big Sur's Cone Peak is the highest coastal mountain in the lower 48 states, ascending nearly a mile (5,155 feet/1.6 km) above sea level, only three miles (4.8 km) from the ocean. (Wikipedia)
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County, where a wildfire has destroyed more than 100 homes.
The governor's declaration Friday dedicates state personnel and equipment to the firefighting effort in the celebrity enclave of Montecito and the town of Santa Barbara.
The fire spread overnight to about 2,500 acres—nearly 4 square miles—prompting the city of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County to declare a local emergency. Officials there asked Schwarzenegger for a state declaration.
The wind-whipped blaze has forced thousands of residents to evacuate and has injured at least 13 people.
The proclamation
A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS on November 13, 2008, a wildfire started in Santa Barbara County and continues to spread; and
WHEREAS the fire has burned approximately 2,500 acres with no containment; and
WHEREAS the fire has already injured 10 people, destroyed over 100 homes, and caused loss of power in the area; and
WHEREAS the fire has required mandatory evacuations and road closures, and residents have been forced to seek emergency shelter; and
WHEREAS on November 13, 2008, I requested, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted, a Fire Management Assistance Grant for this fire; and
WHEREAS on November 13, 2008, the City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County declared a local emergency, and requested that I declare a state of emergency; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of this wildfire, 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 fire in Santa Barbara County.
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 Santa Barbara County.
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 my 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 14th Day of November 2008.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGERGovernor of California
Post sources: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/11019 , http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D94ERJ3G0&show_article=1, http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/04/wildfires/index.html.
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