REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 22, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Continuation of the Proclamations of Local Emergencies - Line Fire and Bridge Fire
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Continue the Local Emergency Proclamation within San Bernardino County related to the Line Fire, that was initially proclaimed by the Director of Emergency Services on September 7, 2024, and ratified by the Board of Supervisors on September 10, 2024.
2. Continue the Local Emergency Proclamation within San Bernardino County related to the Bridge Fire, that was initially proclaimed by the Director of Emergency Services on September 10, 2024, and ratified by the Board of Supervisors on September 12, 2024.
(Presenter: Crisanta Gonzalez, Director of Emergency Management, 356-3988)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
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 result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as there is no cost or financial impact associated with the continuation of the local emergencies. However, the County has incurred costs resulting from the local emergencies. These costs 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
On September 5, 2024, a vegetation fire, referred to as the Line Fire, occurred within the boundaries of the County, posing a threat to lives, property, and the environment within county communities, necessitating evacuation warnings and orders issued by the County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator. On September 7, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), acting as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. On September 10, 2024 (Item No. 87) the Board ratified the action taken by the CEO.
On September 8, 2024, a vegetation fire, known as the Bridge Fire, began to rapidly spread within Los Angeles County adjacent to the County. On September 10, 2024, the Bridge Fire had spread into portions of the County, near the community of Wrightwood, posing an immediate threat to lives, structures, property, and the environment within the county communities, necessitating evacuation warnings and orders issued by the County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator. On September 10, 2024, the CEO, acting as the County Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. On September 12, 2024 (Item No. 1), the Board ratified the action taken by the CEO during an emergency Board meeting.
The extension of the Local Emergency Proclamations allows the County to continue supporting response, suppression, recovery, and mitigation efforts for the Line Fire, as well as recovery and mitigation efforts for the Bridge Fire. Approval of this item will also allow the County to extend certain emergency environmental notifications and permits, and obtain permits to work on environmental projects. Maintaining the Local Emergency Proclamations allows the County to obtain necessary federal and state approvals for mitigation work to move forward and the time for this work to be completed.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630, subdivision (c), the Board shall review the need for continuing a local emergency at least once every 60 days until the Board terminates the local emergency. Board approval of this recommendation would continue the local emergencies for an additional period in accordance with Government Code section 8630, subdivision (c).
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 3, 2024; Department of Public Works (Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906) on October 5, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on October 3, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 4, 2024.