FEMA has additional tips and resources to salvage personal items that have survived fires.Ĭalifornia has endured some of the worst wildfires in United States history. When evacuating, never risk your personal safety to save belongings. When returning after a fire, wear protective clothing and eyewear to handle items. Hazardous particles may still be in the air and structures will likely be unstable. Understanding Individual Assistance and Public Assistance – En Español After the Fire: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures Understanding Individual Assistance and Public Assistance The Federal Emergency Management Agency may provide two types of assistance, following natural disasters with a presidential disaster declaration: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance.
Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements, are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of the fires. To assist local governments and for the protection of public health and the environment, state agencies shall enter into contracts to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services necessary to quickly assist with the response to and recovery from the impacts of these fires. The Inland, Coastal and Southern Regional Operations Centers also activated to support impacted communities.Ĭal Guard mobilized to support disaster response and/or relief efforts. On October 9, the State Operations Center activated to support emergency management coordination and mutual aid requests for the communities of Yuba, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Butte, Nevada, and Solano who were impacted by the Northern California wildfires. In addition, Cal Guard also coordinated bringing in additional resources from Oregon and Nevada. Aircraft dropped more than 800,000 gallons of water/retardant. Cal Guard and the Nevada National Guard were heavily involved in the air suppression efforts with 23 aircraft offering support via firefighting, damage assessment, fire mapping and transportation.
The California National Guard supported of the firefighting efforts with more than 2,000 soldiers and airmen deployed, including a 500-person infantry from Southern California. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) coordinated the placement of evacuees in dozens of shelters across the region, while also distributing more than 40,000 meals, 60,000 liters of water, 2,000 ADA compliance cots and 12,000 blankets and sheets. Suppression efforts included more than 1,000 fire engines, 30 air tankers and 73 helicopters, with an additional 177 fire engines from out-of-state mutual aid. There were more than 11,000 firefighters and nearly 500 law enforcement personnel working the deadly fires. Resources poured in to California to assist firefighting crews as they battled multiple fires throughout the state. Massive Fire Response and Recovery Efforts The wildfires burned more than 245,000 acres, destroyed 8,900 structures and were responsible for 43 deaths. Thousands of acres burned and threatened infrastructure as strong winds fueled the fast-moving fires, primarily in Northern California. We hope the maps will help disseminate vital information to residents rescue agencies and relief organization while also raising awareness of the long term health hazards exposure to high levels of smoke.Firefighters began battling multiple wildfires on October 8 in numerous counties across the entire state, prompting mass evacuations. Together the maps visualize active fire perimeters density of smoke levels nearby vulnerable populations and property risks to local agricultural businesses.
But as recently reported these models are outdated and do not take into account the volatile weather conditions especially turbulent wind patterns caused by the fire itself.
The accelerated speed at which these fires are spreading reportedly spanning 20 000 acres a single day are making it nearly impossible for fire managers to forecast using their traditional models which are typically built with data related to vegetation type humidity temperature and terrain. Since the beginning of October wildfires across northern California counties including Napa Sonoma Mendocino and Butte have to date burned over 170 000 acres of land destroyed 3 500 structures forced the evacuation of 200 000 people and caused 31 deaths. The wildfires ravaging northern California this month are among the most destructive in the state's history.