SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for San Bernardino County due to the effects of the Blue Cut Fire, which has burned thousands of acres, threatened homes and caused the evacuation of residents.

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on August 16, 2016, the Blue Cut Fire started in San Bernardino County, and has rapidly burned thousands of acres of land, and continues to burn; and

WHEREAS this fire has burned several homes and threatens thousands of structures, including additional homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents; and

WHEREAS the fire is expanding rapidly and has caused injuries to firefighters and destroyed firefighting equipment; and

WHEREAS a Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant has been requested and approved for the Blue Cut Fire; and

WHEREAS on January 17, 2014, I declared a State of Emergency based on the extreme drought that has caused millions of trees to die, and increased the severity and spread of fires throughout the State; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this fire by reason of its magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government 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 in California due to this fire; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8571 of the California Government Code, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of this fire.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., 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 in San Bernardino County.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. All agencies of the state government shall utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all citizens are advised to heed the instructions of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.

2. Health and Safety Code sections 103525.5 and 103625, and Penal Code section 14251, requiring the imposition of fees, are hereby suspended with regard to any request for copies of certificates of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, by any individual who lost such records as a result of the fire. Such copies shall be provided without charge.

3. Vehicle Code sections 9265(a), 9867, 14901, 14902 and 15255.2, requiring the imposition of fees, are suspended with regard to any request for replacement of a driver’s license, identification card, vehicle registration certificate, or certificate of title, by any individual who lost such records as a result of the fire. Such records shall be replaced without charge.

4. Vehicle Code sections 4602 and 5902, requiring the timely registration or transfer of title, are suspended with regard to any registration or transfer of title by any residents of San Bernardino County who are unable to comply with those requirements as a result of the fire. The time covered by this suspension shall not be included in calculating any late penalty pursuant to Vehicle Code section 9554.

5. Unemployment Insurance Code section 1253, imposing a one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance applicants are suspended as to all applicants who are unemployed as a direct result of the fire, who apply for unemployment insurance benefits during the time period beginning August 16, 2016, and ending on the close of business on February 16, 2017, and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in California.

6. The Office of Emergency Services shall determine if local government assistance to San Bernardino County is appropriate under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, California Government Code section 8680 et seq. and California Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq.
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 16th day of August 2016.