VENTURA – Visiting communities impacted by the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County due to the Mountain Fire. The fire has burned at least 19,643 acres, forcing the evacuation of residents, destroying homes, and threatening critical infrastructure. Yesterday, Governor Newsom also announced FEMA’s approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support state and local firefighting response.
“This is a dangerous fire that’s spreading quickly and is threatening lives. California has mobilized state resources, including personnel, engines and aircraft from CAL FIRE and Cal OES, to protect communities as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat this fire. Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
A copy of the proclamation can be found here.
FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Program provides a 75 percent federal cost share and the state pays the remaining 25 percent for response costs, enabling local governments to commit resources to fight wildfires that cause a significant threat to lives and properties.
In anticipation of critical fire weather conditions, Cal OES had coordinated strategic prepositioning of nearly one hundred OES and local government engines, including ten fire engines and two firefighting hand crews in Ventura County alone.
Visit CAL FIRE’s website for the latest on current wildfires, including information on evacuation orders and warnings.
Protecting Californians in a hotter, drier world
California officials treated 700,000 acres of land for wildfire resilience in 2023, and prescribed fires more than doubled between 2021 and 2023.
Other steps the state has taken to protect Californians from wildfires include:
- Investing in wildfire resilience. Governor Newsom and the legislature maintained $2.6 billion in funding over seven years, in addition to new investments of $200 million per year going forward, for healthy forest and fire prevention programs, including prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects.
- Tracking wildfire prevention. California recently unveiled newly updated, first-of-their-kind dashboards that will help Californians track the state’s wildfire prevention work.
- More boots on the ground than ever before. The administration is implementing shorter workweeks for state firefighters to prioritize firefighter wellbeing, while adding 2,400 additional state firefighters to CAL FIRE’s ranks over the next five years.
- Expanding the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet. Governor Newsom has overseen the expansion of California’s aerial firefighting fleet, including the addition of more than 16 helicopters with several equipped for night operations, expanded five helitack bases, and assumed ownership of seven C-130 air tankers, making it the largest fleet of its kind globally. The state also adds to its world-leading air attack capacity through recent new funding to contract 24 additional non-state owned firefighting aircraft.
- Cutting-edge drone technology. CAL FIRE has doubled its use of drones for critical tasks like aerial ignition during prescribed burns, wildfire containment, and real-time assessments.
- Artificial intelligence and real-time data tools. The state is leveraging AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker and the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) to provide real-time mapping of wildfires.
- Advanced mapping and satellite technology. California has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense to use satellites for wildfire detection and invested in LiDAR technology to create detailed 3D maps of high-risk areas, helping firefighters better understand and navigate complex terrains.
- Greater capabilities for incident reporting. CAL FIRE has expanded its capabilities for incident reporting at fire.ca.gov, updating the incident map with near real time information about firefighting aircraft activity, 3-D maps with evacuation orders, local shelter information, road closures, and more.