07/01/2008 GAAS:492:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims State of Emergency in Mariposa County Due to Wildfires

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency in Mariposa County as a result of the Oliver Complex fires burning over 2,800 acres and causing imminent danger to residential property and structures.

To date, the Governor has declared a state of emergency for the following counties: Plumas, Butte, Kern, Mendocino, Monterey, Plumas, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity.

On May 9, 2008, the Governor issued Executive Order S-03-08, which boosted the state's preparedness for wildfire season and directed CAL FIRE to immediately mobilize critical firefighting resources and personnel to save lives and homes statewide.

The text of the proclamation is below:

WHEREAS lightning strikes have ignited major wildfires within the County of Mariposa beginning on or about June 21, 2008, and have burned over 2,800 acres; and

WHEREAS the combined wildfires have been designated the Oliver Complex; and

WHEREAS the wildfires are causing imminent danger to residential property and structures; and

WHEREAS on June 30, 2008, the County of Mariposa declared a local emergency, based on the fires' continuing and imminent threat to persons and property, including injuries to numerous emergency personnel, and requested that I proclaim a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of these wildfires, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the wildfires in the County of Mariposa.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the County of Mariposa.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 1st Day of July 2008.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Governor of California

ATTEST:

DEBRA BOWEN Secretary of State