[californiadisasters] Mountain Fire: Officials Ask Governor To Declare Emergency

Perez, supervisors anticipate future need for state, federal aid as wildfire continues to grow

Written by Dave Nyczepir  and Colin Atagi | Mydesert.com

Jul. 19, 2013   |  

MOUNTAIN CENTER — By late Thursday, facing predictions that the Mountain Fire burning outside Idyllwild and Palm Springs would grow to 30,000 acres by the weekend, Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez asked Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for areas of Riverside County affected by the quick-moving blaze.

"The state of emergency declaration is a much needed and important step to help rebuild and repair," said Pérez. "We need to make sure our communities gain access to the full spectrum of supports and resources available."

GET THE LATEST: Mountain Fire grows again; get Friday's updates here

His request followed a similar move by Riverside County supervisors who, also on Thursday, declared a local emergency that could make the county eligible for disaster funds should state and federal officials make them available.

It could be months, though, before officials decide to reimburse the county for operations costs that have already reached $6.1 million, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

"We hope the state and federal government recognize the disaster, and that the weather cooperates so our fire teams have a better chance to get the blaze under control," Supervisor Jeff Stone of Idyllwild said in a statement.

Residents of the Apple Canyon and Bonita Vista areas were allowed to return home after the Forest Service said danger had passed for those areas, but evacuation centers remained full as thousands of residents waited out the fourth day of the blaze.

'Human-caused'

According to Forest Service's incident commander Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, the blaze, which started Monday, was "human-caused" and under active investigation.

Source: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130718/NEWS0803/307180001/Mountain-Fire-wildfire-Idyllwild-Palm-Springs

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