Newsom signs state of emergency to support California communities recovering from wildfires
The California governor signed a state of emergency on Tuesday to help residents recover from fires in several areas.
The announcement came just before California’s congressional delegation, headed by California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, delivered a letter at the White House on Tuesday to President Trump asking for federal assistance in battling the blazes.
“I have ordered the state of emergency because the fires are a direct concern of this nation’s security and safety,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement released by his office. “Together, we must ensure safety and help all Californians rebuild from the devastation.”
A day after he signed the declaration, California Lt. Gov. John Chiang said he would support the state’s declaration. “The state of emergency is a necessary tool in order to take swift action to save lives, protect communities and provide relief to victims,” he said in a statement.
Newsom also signed a bill into law that provides immediate funding for the state’s wildfire damage response. The bill is the latest effort by Newsom to aid the state in its recovery from the deadliest fire on record in the United States, which started last month in Butano and quickly raced across the Golden State.
Newsom said that “no matter how big or small the fires may be,” the declaration would help him make decisions about the direction of the state’s recovery. “My administration is on the front line of the battle,” he said in a press conference Tuesday. “We will not waiver. We will stand as one and work with the federal government, to ensure we get the resources and the cooperation that we need to fully recover.”
The California wildfires are being fueled by drought conditions, which have prompted many California residents to reduce or temporarily stop watering their lawns. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency over the state’s ongoing wildfires. AP Photo/Tony Avelar
California’s wildfires are being fueled by drought conditions,