EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA

E X E C U T I V E D E P A R T M E N T

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on July 2, 2024, the Thompson Fire began burning in Butte

County and has since burned approximately 4,000 acres; and

WHEREAS the Thompson Fire has prompted evacuation orders for

thousands, and continues to threaten structures, homes, critical infrastructure,

and health and congregate care facilities; and

WHEREAS continued high temperatures throughout the day and night, dry

conditions, and strong winds have increased the intensity and spread of the

Thompson Fire, causing imminent threat to life, with an Excessive Heat Warning

in effect in Butte County; and

WHEREAS state agencies, including my Office of Emergency Services and

the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, have been

coordinating with and supporting emergency operations and fire and law

enforcement resources in Butte County in response to the Thompson Fire; and

WHEREAS the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a Fire

Management Assistance Grant for Butte County to assist with the mitigation,

management, and control of the Thompson Fire; 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 the Thompson Fire in Butte County; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find

that the conditions caused by the Thompson Fire, by reason of its 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 Thompson Fire; 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

Thompson Fire.

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 Butte County due to the Thompson Fire.

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 the Thompson Fire. 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 the

Thompson Fire.

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 my 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. In order to ensure hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities remain

open, the Director of the California Department of Public Health

(CDPH) may waive any of the licensing requirements of chapters 1, 2,

8, and 8.5 of division 2 of the Health and Safety Code and

accompanying regulations with respect to any hospital, clinic, other

health facility, home health agency, or hospice agency identified in

Health and Safety Code sections 1200, 1250, 1727, or 1746 that is

impacted by the Thompson Fire. Any waiver shall include alternative

measures that, under the circumstances, will allow the facilities to

remain open while protecting public health and safety. Any health

facilities or agencies being granted a waiver shall be established and

operated in accordance with their disaster and mass casualty plan or

emergency preparedness plan. Any waivers granted pursuant to this

paragraph shall be posted on the CDPH website and shall be in effect

only so long as necessary to address the direct impacts of the

Thompson Fire in Butte County.

6. In order to directly respond to the needs of impacted adult and senior

care facilities, child care facilities, children’s residential facilities,

resource family homes, home care organizations, and other similar

care facilities and care providers within the California Department of

Social Services’ (CDSS) jurisdiction, the Director of CDSS may waive any

provisions of the Family Code, Health and Safety Code, or Welfare and

Institutions Code, and accompanying regulations or written directives,

with respect to the use, licensing, certification, registration or approval

of care providers, facilities or homes within CDSS jurisdiction set forth in

the California Community Care Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code

section 1500 et seq.), Child Care Provider Registration (Health and

Safety Code section 1596.60 et seq.), the California Child Day Care

Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code section 1596.70 et seq.),

Residential Care Facilities for Persons With Chronic Life-Threatening

Illness (Health and Safety Code section 1568.01 et seq.), the California

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act (Health and Safety Code

section 1569 et seq.), Medical Foster Homes for Veterans (Health and

Safety Code section 1568.21 et seq.), Continuing Care Contracts

(Health and Safety Code section 1770 et seq.), the Home Care

Services Consumer Protection Act (Health and Safety Code section

1796.10 et seq.), and the Resource Family Approval Program (Welfare

and Institutions Code section 16519.5 et seq.). Any waivers granted

pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the CDSS website and

shall be in effect only so long as necessary to address the direct

impacts of the Thompson Fire in Butte County.

7. In order to directly respond to the needs of behavioral health programs

and facilities impacted by the Thompson Fire, including alcohol and

other drug programs, adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or

treatment facilities, driving-under-the-influence programs, narcotic

treatment programs, psychiatric health facilities, mental health

rehabilitation centers, social rehabilitation programs, skilled nursing

facilities with special treatment programs, Lanterman-Petris-Short

designated facilities, community treatment facilities, short term

residential therapeutic programs, and children’s crisis residential

programs, the Director of the Department of Health Care Services

(DHCS) may waive any licensing, certification, or approval

requirements for such programs under its jurisdiction set forth in Welfare

and Institutions Code, Divisions 4, 5 and 9 and in Health and Safety

Code, Divisions 2 and 10.5 and accompanying regulations, written

standards, or information notices. Any waivers granted pursuant to this

paragraph shall be posted on the DHCS website and shall be in effect

only so long as necessary to address the direct impacts of the

Thompson Fire in Butte County.

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 3rd day

of July 2024.

_________________________

GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor of California

ATTEST:

_____________________________

SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH. D

Secretary of State