DATE: September 9, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer/Emergency Services Director
SUBJECT: Proclamation and Ratification of the existence of a Local Emergency – 2025 Salt 14-2 Fire
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution proclaiming and ratifying a Local Emergency, as a result of the 2025 Salt 14-2 Fire.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will ensure that the local emergency status proclaimed by the Emergency Services Director on September 4, 2025, remains in effect and allows for the potential recovery of eligible costs.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
No viable options are available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended action is necessary to ensure specific liability protection, emergency powers of the Emergency Services Director, and potential recovery of eligible costs, if any, from State and Federal emergency funds.
DISCUSSION:
California Government Code (GC), section (§) 8630 authorizes proclamation of a local emergency by your Board or by an official so designated by ordinance when your Board is not in session and cannot immediately be called into session. Fresno County Ordinance Code, Chapter 2.44, designates the County Administrative Officer as the Emergency Services Director. Pursuant to County Ordinance, your Board is requested to confirm the proclamation of a local emergency within seven days by ratifying the proclamation and adopting the resolution.
On September 4, 2025, the Emergency Services Director proclaimed the existence of a local emergency due to the Salt 14-2 Fire. The fire has rapidly expanded, threatening life, property, and critical resources throughout Fresno County. Its scale exceeds the control and capacity of local resources, requiring assistance through the mutual aid system as well as state and federal support.
Pursuant to Government Code §8630 and Fresno County Ordinance, Chapter 2.44, the Board is requested to ratify the proclamation to ensure emergency powers remain in effect.
County Ordinance, Chapter 2.44 requires your Board to review the need to continue the local emergency at least once every 60 days until terminated. The local emergency must be terminated at the earliest possible date when conditions warranting the proclamation have ended.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Resolution
Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander