Calif. Governor Requests Federal Emergency Declaration As SoCal Fires Rage

Devastating fires in Southern California prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to request federal assistance on Thursday and President Donald Trump to approve an emergency declaration on Friday, paving the way for the state’s recovery efforts to be facilitated ― and partially funded ― by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nearly 200,000 Californians have had to flee their homes so far.

The strength of the winds forecast has driven the fire threat to “purple,” a never-before-used color that represents the winds’ dangerous power.

Yet another blaze ignited in the southern part of the state on Friday morning, this one east of San Diego on the western edge of the Cleveland National Forest. It was quickly brought under control and by Friday afternoon was considered “largely contained.” 

“For the first time in history, on December 7th, the Cal Fire elevated the fire threat to purple for San Diego County, warning that the weather conditions presented an extreme risk of fire for San Diego,” Brown explained in his emergency request letter. “Fire officials predict extreme winds of up to 80 miles per hour, equal to the wind speed of a category one hurricane.”

The governor added: “The extreme winds propel embers up ahead of the actively burning areas, making containment nearly impossible. As a result, the destruction will escalate.”

There will be no ability to fight fire in these kinds of winds. Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire

Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, made the same grim prognosis at a press conference Thursday. “The forecast for tomorrow is purple,” Pimlott said. “We’ve never used purple before.” 

“There will be no ability to fight fire in these kinds of winds,” he added to the Los Angeles Times.

California has the largest fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world, but they typically can’t drop fire retardant in winds above 30 mph. 

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the fires: 

Thomas Fire

The largest of the blazes in Southern California, the Thomas Fire stands at 132,000 acres ― that’s 206 square miles ― and 10 percent containment. Officials said late Thursday that upwards of 440 structures have burned in the fire so far, while a total of 15,000 structures are at risk.

More than 2,500 firefighters are currently battling the blaze that’s forced the evacuation of more than 50,000 people.

Wally Skalij via Getty Images
A firefighter battles the Thomas Fire in the town of La Conchita early Thursday morning.

Rye Fire

The 6,049-acre Rye Fire has injured one firefighter, destroyed one structure, threatens an additional 5,460 structures, and stands at 35 percent contained. In a rare bit of good news, Friday morning’s incident report found that the fire hadn’t expanded overnight.

Firefighters tentatively expect to have the fire fully contained by next Friday.

Gene Blevins / Reuters
A firefighting helicopter tries to make a water drop in heavy winds after an early-morning fire broke out in the Kagel Canyon area in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, on Dec. 5, 2017.

Creek Fire

Even as firefighters have battled what the incident report described as “high winds, poor access and steep, rugged terrain,” the 15,323-acre Creek Fire stands at 40 percent contained. Some 2,500 structures are still threatened, with at least 65 having been destroyed. Extremely low humidity and strong Santa Ana winds are expected to continue to pose a problem on Friday.

SANDY HUFFAKER via Getty Images
Firefighters walk to the fire line at the Lilac Fire in Bonsall on Dec. 7, 2017.

Lilac Fire

A new blaze that ignited roughly 120 miles south of Los Angeles in San Diego County on Thursday night, the Lilac Fire is zero percent contained, has expanded to 4,100 acres, and has already destroyed at least 65 structures. That’s a drastic increase from just two structures lost as of Thursday evening.

Two firefighters and four civilians have also been injured.

Gina Ferazzi via Getty Images
A plane drops fire retardant to stop the wind-driven Liberty Fire near Los Alamos Road on Dec. 7, 2017, in Murrieta.

Liberty Fire 

Another relative newcomer, the Liberty Fire ignited Thursday afternoon about 20 miles north of the Lilac Fire. Per the last incident report filed mid-day Friday, the fire covers 300 acres and is 60 percent contained, with at least one structure destroyed.

Bloomberg via Getty Images
An Erickson Inc. Air Crane firefighting helicopter makes a water drop during the Skirball Fire in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2017.

Skirball Fire 

The Skirball Fire, which threatens the area around the Getty Museum and large estates in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, stands at around 475 acres. It is 30 percent contained and has destroyed six structures ― including Rupert Murdoch’s $30 million Moraga estate.

The Getty Museum plans to reopen Friday after having closed Thursday because of the fire.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-fires-federal-emergency-declaration_us_5a2ab607e4b0a290f05026e2