Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency for Gifford Fire, Five Other Severe Weather Events - edhat

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared states of emergency to support recovery initiatives for six “severe weather events” that occurred earlier this year, his office announced on social media on December 23, 2025.

The six severe weather events include the Gifford Fire, which burned for more than a month and a half in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, according to a statement from Governor Newsom’s office.

The Gifford Fire broke out on August 1, 2025, in San Luis Obispo County and rapidly spread into Santa Barbara County, according to the state of emergency proclamation. The fire burned more than 131,000 acres and was fully contained by September 28, 2025. 

NEW: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom has declared states of emergency to support recovery efforts for six severe weather events earlier this year that caused significant damage in the City of Rancho Cucamonga, Del Norte County, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, Imperial…

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 24, 2025

Gifford Fire State of Emergency Proclamation

Fueled by hot, dry, and windy conditions, the fire spread rapidly and resulted in the closure of Highway 166 for more than two weeks, the proclamation said. The Gifford Fire caused significant damage to highways and infrastructure, including destroyed downdrains and debris accumulation in catchments, inlets, and ditch lines, it noted.

Under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), Newsom found that the conditions caused by the fire, by reason of their magnitude, were “beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government” and need the “combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions” to respond appropriately, according to the proclamation.

It further stated that under the provisions of Government Code section 8625(c), the governor found that the local authorities were “inadequate to cope with the magnitude of the damages” caused by the Gifford Fire. 

Under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, the governor concluded that “strict compliance with various statutes and regulations” specified in the proclamation would “prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the Gifford Fire.” 

Under the state of emergency, all agencies of the California government are ordered to 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.”

All residents are expected to obey emergency officials to protect their safety.

The California Department of Transportation will send a formal request for immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, United States Code, Title 23, section 125, to receive federal aid for highway repairs or reconstruction, the proclamation stated. 

Other Severe Weather Events

In addition to the Gifford Fire, Governor Newsom announced states of emergency for the January Windstorms in Rancho Cucamonga, the July Tsunami in Del Norte County, the August Monsoon Storms in Imperial County, the Late August Storms and Mudslides in Sierra County, and the mid-September Storms in San Bernardino and Imperial County.

Declaring states of emergency will allow state assistance and resources to reach affected communities and support recovery efforts, the governor’s office said.