LOC20:33
17:33 GMT
WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump declared Friday that an emergency exists in the State of California and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from wildfires.
An Emergency Declaration noted that Trump's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), "to coordinate all disaster relief efforts."
It added that this action "will help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict on the local population, and provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures ... to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura."
Wildfires roared across Southern California for the fifth day with new blazes prompting more evacuations.
Six large wildfires have scorched nearly 160,000 acres in the state this week, said officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
At least 5,700 firefighters are working to contain the towering walls of flames.
The fires have forced 190,000 people out of their homes. (end)
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