California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the Bridge And Airport Fires, two of the massive wildfires that have ravaged Southern California in recent days.
The statement comes just days after he did the same the same goes for the Line Fire over the weekend. Together, the three have burned more than 100,000 acres of vegetation, much of it burning in national forests.
He made the announcement shortly after visiting the area, the outskirts of the Line Fire, which has forced the evacuation of thousands of people living in the San Bernardino Mountains, including communities like Big Bear.
Office of the Governor of California
The declaration allows the state government to provide further assistance to local agencies deploying resources to combat the massive fires.
The state recently received assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adding an additional level of support to the emergency services response in Southern California, which is already overwhelmed by the urgency required to address each of the incidents.
“California is deploying all available resources to combat these devastating fires, and we continue to work closely with federal and local partners in this Herculean effort,” the governor’s statement said. “We are deeply grateful to all of the heroic firefighters and first responders on the ground who are working around the clock to keep Californians safe.”
