Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, Thursday requested that Gov. Jerry Brown sign a State of Emergency Proclamation recognizing the disastrous effects of the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest.
“I have asked the governor to declare a state of emergency for Riverside County concerning the threat of the Holy Fire,” Melendez said. “The area of this fire has grown to over 9,000 acres and is beginning to threaten the homes of residents, who have been given mandatory evacuation orders.”
Melendez said Gov. Jerry Brown should make it a priority to issue the emergency declaration for the benefit of Riverside County and Orange County residents.
An emergency proclamation facilitates access to state and federal resources, including grants, by individuals and businesses impacted by a disaster.
Kelly Huston in the governor’s Office of Emergency Services told City News Service that a proclamation may be in the works, but he could not confirm whether it would be issued this week.
“The California Emergency Services Act provides meaningful protections for the residents who have been ordered to evacuate, including prohibitions on price gouging and the ability to bring in resources that can be used to fight the fire or help evacuated residents,” Melendez said.
The lawmaker, her spouse and five children are longtime residents of Lake Elsinore, portions of which are included in the evacuation order, which additionally encompasses the outlying communities of Blue Jay, El Cariso, Glen Eden, Horsethief Canyon, Indian Canyon, Mayhew Canyon, McVicker Canyon, Rancho Capistrano, Rice Canyon and Sycamore Creek.
By 5 p.m. Thursday, flames were in the vicinity of homes and other structures in Horsethief Canyon.