LA County board declares local state of emergency in fight against Sand Fire

With fast moving flames continuing to bu tens of thousands of acres in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to declare a local state of emergency to bolster resources to help fight the now five day old Sand Fire.

The fire has charred more than 37,000 acres, forced 20,000 people to evacuate, destroyed 18 homes and caused one death.

“The Sand Fire is considered unprecedented by fire officials,” said Supervisor Michael Antonovich. “There is a need to take immediate action.”

In addition, U.S. Rep. Steve Knight. R-Palmdale, asked Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency as well.

“The historic drought Los Angeles County is enduring this year has created disastrous conditions for managing wildfires,” Knight wrote in his letter to Brown. “The Sand Fire threatens to compound economic effects of the drought while inflicting tremendous stress on public resources and individual families who are displaced from their communities.”

Later in the moing, the board was expected to file a motion asking that the fire chief and county CEO evaluate the possibility of buying a Superscooper along with additional helicopters to augment the county’s fire-fighting arsenal. Right now, the craft are from Canada, and Antonovich aounced one would be in Los Angeles on Monday.

The so-called Superscooper, called a Bombardier 415, runs about $37 million, but is able to grab 1,620 gallons in 12 seconds. They are here early September through the end of November, a period traditionally designated as Southe Califoia’s prime fire season.