Newsom requests Major Disaster Declaration for Mill Fire and other California fires

Governor Gavin Newsom requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Wednesday in response to the Mill Fire and several other wildfires throughout California.

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The request is designed to assist state and local response and recovery efforts in the counties of Siskiyou, Riverside, El Dorado, Placer, Madera, and Modoc.

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The request encompasses the communities impacted by fires that were exacerbated by the unprecedented late-August and early September “heat dome.” The heat dome created unprecedented weather and environmental conditions that significantly spread the wildfires across California, including the Mill, Mountain, Fairview, Mosquito, Fork, and Barnes fires.

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The decision on whether to approve California’s request will be vetted through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The devastating impacts of our changing climate have never been more clear – and they threaten not just our future, but the history, places and communities that define our state,” said Governor Newsom. “We are deploying every tool we have, including seeking the support of the federal government, to help Californians as they rebuild and recover from wildfires driven by the recent record-breaking heat dome.”

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Among the hardest hit was the Lincoln Heights community in Weed, a historically Black neighborhood that dates back to the early 20th century.

If approved, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration could help people in the impacted counties through eligibility for several programs and supports, along with assistance to help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery costs.