SACRAMENTO – As California rapidly responds to active, rapidly evolving wildfires in Southern California caused by dangerous winds and dry conditions, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that more than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel have been deployed to protect California communities.
The Governor also issued an executive order to support communities affected by the ongoing fires. Text of the executive order is available here.
Earlier today, President Joe Biden quickly approved Governor Newsom’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support ongoing response efforts. Late last night, the state also received continued federal assistance to combat the Hurst, Eaton, and Palisades Fires. On Tuesday, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency.
“We are putting all available resources behind fighting these wildfires, including leveraging local and federal assets. California has thousands of boots on the ground working to combat these fires. The state is leaving no stone unturned to protect California communities.” – Governor Gavin Newsom
By the numbers: All-in state response
California’s emergency response to wildfire impacts has involved nearly every part of the state government. Assistance on the ground includes:
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
Coordinating the state’s response through the activation of the State Operations Center, including the deployment of 1,040 firefighters and 260 fire engines through the state’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System.
- Neighbor helping neighbor: California has requested and received commitments for 75 engines from Oregon, 45 engines from Washington, 5 engines from New Mexico, 10 engines from Utah and 25 engines from Idaho, accounting for hundreds of additional firefighters through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
- Coordinating with local fire departments, county emergency managers and weather officials ahead of this extreme weather event, while increasing public messaging to encourage overall community resiliency.
- Previously, Cal OES prepositioned 65 local government fire engines, 7 water tenders, 7 helicopters, 9 dozers and more than 105 specialized personnel in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties in advance of the wind event.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
- 4,700+ firefighting personnel deployed, including local and federal partners
- Air assets include 6 air tankers and 31 helicopters
- 1,002 engines
- 138 handcrews
- Equipment including 53 dozers and 23 water tenders
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
- 600 personnel mobilized to clear debris and handle traffic equipment power outages on two 12-hour shifts, including six maintenance stations without power and are mobilizing generator backups.
- Replenishing batteries that are servicing 40 traffic signals affected by power outages.
California Highway Patrol (CHP)
- 19 CHP officials deployed to embed with incident command.
California National Guard (Cal Guard)
600+ Cal Guard service members and equipment deployed to support firefighting and law enforcement operations:
- 2 hand crews assigned to CALFIRE already on incident, with another 8 crews deploying from Task Force Rattlesnake
- 10 Rotary Wing Aircraft deployed
- 2 C-130 airplanes staging for wildland firefighting operations
California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Working in partnership with Los Angeles County to ensure that residents have access to critical safety net benefits, including food benefits.
- 4 open shelters with approximately 500 people currently sheltered.
- Distributing the state’s Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians, regardless of immigration status, within impacted communities. The guide is available in Spanish here.
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
- Activating the Medical Health Coordination Center to coordinate the overall public health emergency response, including monitoring impacts to the health facilities CDPH licenses, which includes all major hospitals, and public health in the impacted area.
To learn more about active emergencies, visit ready.ca.gov.