05/11/2007 &nb=
sp;GAAS:371:07 FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gov. Schwarzenegger =
Tours
Griffith Park Fire Zone, Thanks Firefighters
Joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,
firefighters and state and local officials, Governor Schwarzenegger today
toured the Griffith<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.5pt;color:black'> Park<=
/st1:PlaceType> fire zone. The Governor tha=
nked
the firefighters for saving lives and protecting hundreds of homes from b=
eing
burned. He also discussed the early arrival of this year’s fire sea=
son.
The hard work of our dedicated firefighters saved lives, protected homes =
and
preserved some of our most treasured California landmarks like the Hollyw=
ood
Sign, the Greek Theater, the Griffith Observatory and the Los Angeles Zoo,
said Governor Schwarzenegger.
The lack of rain, along with the hot, dry temperatures, has created
conditions for a long and intense wildfire season this year.
Today, the Governor directed Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman to work
with Mayor Villaraigosa and other city officials to determine what resour=
ces
are available to restore the damage to Griffith Park.
They are currently assessing the full extent of the damage.
Fire officials also briefed the Governor on a wildfire on Catalina Island
near the City of Avalon, which as of Friday morning was 10 percent contai=
ned,
with more than 4,000 acres burned. More than 3,800 people have been
evacuated. State, federal and local authorities have deployed =
732
firefighters, 44 fire engines, 9 helicopters and 5 air tankers to fight t=
he
blaze. The State is also working with the Navy and Air Nation=
al
Guard to mobilize additional resources.
Earlier this week, Governor Schwarzenegger issued an executive order=
directing
state agencies to mobilize additional personnel and equipment and coordin=
ate
together and with federal and local agencies to maximize California’s fire prevention a=
nd
fighting capabilities.
The Governor’s executive order directs the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to staff additional fire crews, f=
ire
engines, fire bulldozers and aviation resources as needed to respond to
wildfires throughout the state. CAL FIRE will also assign additional
fire safety inspectors and fire lookouts during peak fire conditions.
The order also calls for CAL FIRE, in coordination with the Office of
Emergency Services (OES), as fire threat conditions warrant, to deploy fi=
re
engine strike teams to ensure a substantial response capability to any
wildfire in California.
It also directs the California National Guard to prepare its aviation ass=
ets
and pre-position ground support equipment as appropriate for immediate
response to major wildfires and report to OES on a weekly bases on the st=
atus
of all aircraft.
CAL FIRE will also obtain additional staffing to support a heightened lev=
el
of fire prevention public awareness and education.
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