GOVERNOR LINGLE DECLARES FIRE EMERGENCY

For Immediate Release: August 16, 2007  

HONOLULU - Governor Linda Lingle signed a proclamation declaring a fire emergency in Hawai`i and offering relief for farmers suffering from droughts and wildfires.

The Governor’s proclamation authorizes the use of the Hawai`i National Guard to assist and aid civilian authorities in disaster relief and in averting imminent public danger, activates a State loan program for farmers, and makes available commercial and personal loans through a state program.

The Governor’s proclamation says, “State and county fire fighters have fought nine wildfires on four islands since July 1, 2007, which damaged or destroyed over 18,500 acres of land.”  The proclamation notes that the Waialua wildfire on O`ahu that started on August 12, 2007, has damaged or destroyed over 6,700 acres of land, including agricultural lands, and threatens homes, businesses, schools, Schofield Barracks Military Reservation, a large state forest preserve, countless natural resources and endangered species and other significant tracts of property should the fire cross the Wai`anae Mountain Range.  

Governor Lingle states in the proclamation that even as another large wildfire is burning on O`ahu near Ka`ena Point, the lack of “moneys and resources gravely compromise the ability of the State and counties to fight wildfires that may arise before December 31, 2007.”

The declaration comes as the National Weather Service continues to forecast weather for the rest of the year that is drier than normal.

The disaster emergency relief period designated by Governor Lingle’s proclamation is effective from August 12, 2007, through the end of the year.

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Contact the State Civil Defense Public Information Office:
 
Ray Lovell
808-733-4300 ext. 524
rlovell@scd.hawaii.gov

Dave Curtis
808-733-4300 ext. 522
dcurtis@scd.hawaii.gov

Shelly Ichishita
808-733-4300 ext. 533
sichishita@scd.hawaii.gov

Fax: 808-733-4278