California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, has asked President Trump to declare a state of emergency for counties in southern California due to wildfires that have spread in the area.
Brown sent a letter to Trump on Thursday requesting the emergency declaration, which would unlock federal resources for Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
At least six wildfires have burned 140,000 acres this week, according to officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
More than 190,000 people have been evacuated from the area and the fires threaten at least 23,000 homes.
“I have determined this incident is of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments and supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the effects of this imminent catastrophe,” Brown wrote.
In addition to federal assistance, including air assets from the Department of Defense, Brown also requested shelter supplies and water for residents of the five southern California counties, along with help from the Department of Agriculture to evacuate large animals.
The wildfires burning in southern California come two months after fires burned throughout northern California, killing 44 people and destroying more than 8,000 structures. The wildfires there were the deadliest in the state’s history.
