REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 12, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of Local Emergency - Bridge Fire
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Ratify action taken by the Chief Executive Officer, while serving as the Director of Emergency Services on September 10, 2024, proclaiming the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County as a result of the Bridge Fire.
2. Continue the local emergency, which still exists and continues to be an emergency, for an additional period in accordance with Government Code section 8630, subdivision (c).
(Presenter: Crisanta Gonzalez, Director of Emergency Management, 356-3988)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as there is no cost or financial impact associated with ratifying the proclamation or continuing this local emergency. The County, however, has incurred significant costs resulting from this emergency. The preliminary damage estimates are still being collected due to the ongoing fire. Damage estimates, including response costs, are not fully determined at this time but could potentially require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding. Should this occur, a future item will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Beginning on September 8, 2024, a vegetation fire (known as the “Bridge Fire”) began to rapidly spread within Los Angeles County. Fire suppression efforts are currently being provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County Fire Department. San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) has joined the effort to support this incident.
On September 10, 2024, the Bridge Fire spread into portions of San Bernardino County, near the community of Wrightwood, posing an immediate threat to lives, structures, property, and the environment within San Bernardino County communities. The rapidly spread fire necessitated evacuation warnings and orders by the San Bernardino County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator.
As of the morning of September 11, 2024, over 47,000 acres had burned. The Bridge Fire has imperiled the safety of people, property, and the environment within the county and has resulted in, among other direct outcomes, road closures, evacuation warnings and orders, and hazardous air quality. Sheltering is available for evacuees, including animals, impacted by the Bridge Fire. Because of the extensive damage resulting from this fire, on September 10, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while serving as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630, subdivision (c), the Board shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the Board terminates the local emergency.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie J. Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 11, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on September 11, 2024.