Calif. Gov requests federal emergency declaration over fires

California Gov. Jerry Brown asked President Trump on Thursday to declare an emergency in his state as wildfires continued to tear through Southern California.

A Presidential Emergency Declaration would allow direct federal assistance to supplement the state and local response to the fires.

“I have determined this incident is of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments and supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the effects of this imminent catastrophe,” Brown, a Democrat, wrote in his request.

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Brown’s request to Trump came after Brown declared states of emergency in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties, which have been ravaged by multiple wildfires in recent days. 

Those fires have damaged thousands of acres of property and destroyed hundreds of buildings in just a few short days, with unpredictable winds making the blazes difficult to contain.

The current fires burning in Southern California come barely two months after blazes ripped through wine country in Northern California, killing 44 people and dealing billions of dollars worth of damage.