Gov. Newsom Declares Statewide Emergency Due to Fires, Extreme Weather Conditions; Cosumnes Fire Dept. Assisting on Kinkade Fire

Sacramento – This morning California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency. The declaration is because of the effects of unprecedented high-wind events which have resulted in statewide fires and evacuations. 

In Sonoma County, the Kincade Fire has already burned more than 30,000 acres and has led to the evacuation of almost 200,000 people and threatened hundreds of structures. The Tick Fire in  Southern California has destroyed structures, threatened homes and critical infrastructure, and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. 

As of today, there are over 3,000 local, state and federal personnel, including first responders, assisting with the Kincade Fire alone. On Friday, firefighters from the Cosumnes Fire Department serving Galt and Elk Grove and two Elk Grove Police dispatchers were activated to assist in the Kinkade Fire. 

“We are deploying every resource available, and are coordinating with numerous agencies as we continue to respond to these fires," Newsom said in his statement declaring the emergency. "It is critical that people in evacuation zones heed the warnings from officials and first responders, and have the local and state resources they need as we fight these fires," 

Earlier this week, the Governor secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Kincade and Tick fires and enable local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.