Gov. Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Ventura County

08/19/2007 GAAS:649:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gov. Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Ventura County due to Zaca Fire

Based on the imminent threat of the Zaca Fire in Ventura County, Gov. Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a State of Emergency in that county. The fire is quickly approaching the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line, posing a threat to people and property in Ventura County. It began on July 4, 2007 in Santa Barbara County and has burned more than 180,000 acres. The Governor proclaimed a State of Emergency in Santa Barbara County on August 3, 2007 in response to this fire, which is currently 75 percent contained.

Below is the full text of the Governor’s emergency proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS on July 4, 2007, wildfires began in Santa Barbara County and such wildfires are

continuing to date; and

WHEREAS the wildfire have been designated as the Zaca Fire; and

WHEREAS on August 3, 2007, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the County of Santa Barbara, where the Zaca Fire originated; and

WHEREAS while the Zaca Fire is approximately 75 percent contained, the Zaca Fire has burned over 180,000 acres and continues to burn; and

WHEREAS on August 18, 2007, the Zaca Fire is burning east towards Ventura County, and is fast approaching the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line; and

WHEREAS on August 19, 2007, the County of Ventura declared a local emergency and requested a state proclamation of emergency as the result of the Zaca Fire; and

WHEREAS the Ventura County Sheriff has issued precautionary evacuation notices for residents of Ventura County along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit; and

WHEREAS evacuation warnings remain in place near the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line; and

WHEREAS as a result of the Zaca Fire, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen in the areas of Ventura County along the State Highway 33 corridor and surrounding communities including Ojai; and

WHEREAS there is imminent danger to homes, roadways and structures in the County of Ventura; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of the Zaca Fire, by reason of their magnitude, are 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 in VenturaCounty due to the Zaca Fire.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Ventura 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 the 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 19th day of August 2007.