EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

     WHEREAS on January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire ignited in Los Angeles County, burning over 1,200 acres as of the time this Proclamation is issued; and

     WHEREAS high winds, low humidity, and dry conditions have increased the intensity and spread of the Palisades Fire, causing imminent threat to life with Red Flag warnings in effect in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and widespread dangerous windstorm conditions with damaging wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph forecasted; and

     WHEREAS the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions threaten structures, homes, and critical infrastructure, including power lines and water tanks, and have prompted evacuation orders and warnings and impacted the access route to the Palisades Highlands community; and

     WHEREAS in response to a request from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a Fire Management Assistant Grant to assist with the mitigation, management, and control of the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025; and

     WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to impacts of the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties; and

     WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that the conditions caused by the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to appropriately respond; and

     WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8625(c), I find that local authorities are inadequate to cope with the magnitude of the damage caused by the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions; and

     WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Proclamation would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code section 8625, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to the Palisades Fire and windstorm conditions.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
 

1. All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all residents are to obey the direction of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.
    
2. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide assistance to local governments, if appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq.
    
3. As necessary to assist local governments and for the protection of public health and the environment, state agencies shall enter into contracts to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services necessary to quickly assist with the response to and recovery from the impacts of this emergency. Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements, are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of this emergency.
    
4. The California National Guard may be mobilized under Military and Veterans Code section 146 to support disaster response and relief efforts, as directed by the Office of Emergency Services, and to coordinate with all relevant state agencies and state and local emergency responders and law enforcement within the impacted areas. Sections 147 and 188 of the Military and Veterans Code are applicable during the period of participation in this mission, exempting the California Military Department from applicable procurement rules for specified emergency purchases, and those rules are hereby suspended.
    
5. Adequate state staffing during this emergency is necessary for all state agencies and departments with an assigned response and/or recovery role. Consistent with applicable federal law, work hour limitations for retired annuitants, permanent and intermittent personnel, and state management and senior supervisors, are suspended. Furthermore, reinstatement and work hour limitations in Government Code sections 21220, 21224(a), and 7522.56(b), (d), (f), and (g), and the time limitations in Government Code section 19888.1 and California Code of Regulations, title 2, sections 300-303 are suspended. All other restrictions must be adhered to for retired annuitants. The Director of the California Department of Human Resources must be notified of any individual employed in state government pursuant to these suspensions. The suspension of statutes identified in this Paragraph shall also apply to local governments, as applicable, to ensure adequate staffing to appropriately respond to this emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Local governmental agencies shall notify the California Public Employees' Retirement System of any individual employed by an agency pursuant to this Paragraph.
    
6.  The limitation for the period of employment for State Personnel Board emergency appointments, as provided in Government Code section 19888.1, is suspended for positions required for emergency response and/or recovery operations related to this emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The requirements and period of employment for such appointments will be determined by the Office of Emergency Services, but shall not extend beyond the termination date of the State of Emergency.

     I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Proclamation.

     This Proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 7th day of January 2025.

GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California

ATTEST:

SHIRLEY WEBER, PH.D.
Secretary of State