California Declares State Of Emergency As Wildfires Threaten Homes

By Newsroom America Staff at 23 Aug 2012

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in three Northern counties following wildfires that have destroyed dozens of houses, threatened thousands more and caused evacuations and road closures.

An emergency proclamation has been issued for Plumas, Shasta and Tehama Counties.

A wildfire that started in Tehama County on August 18 has spread to Shasta County and consumed more than 15,000 acres and continues to burn.

The counties of Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama had declared local emergencies and requested that the governor declare a state of emergency.

The declaration means all agencies of the state government such as the National Guard can deploy state personnel, equipment, and facilities to fight the fires.

More than 3,000 people have reportedly been forced to flee their homes in Tehama and Shasta, which is about 125 miles north of the state capital, Sacramento.

More than 2000 firefighters are battling the blaze with many helicopters also assisting.