San Luis Obispo County board ratifies local emergency declaration for Gifford Fire

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution Aug. 11 ratifying the Emergency Services Director’s proclamation of a local emergency for the Gifford Fire.

The action, moved by Supervisor Moreno and seconded by Supervisor Paulding, formalizes the county’s response measures and allows continued coordination with federal, state and local partners. The board voted yes on the motion from Supervisors Moreno, Paulding, Perchon, Gibson and Chairperson Ortiz Legg.

Why it matters: ratifying a local emergency enables the county to streamline mutual-aid support and resource requests as the fire response continues. In brief remarks, supervisors praised the joint response and staff for evacuation and shelter coordination.

Supervisor Paulding, who spoke during the consent item, said she had attended community meetings facilitated by first responders and praised the multiagency effort: “They are doing an amazing job, both the federal, state, and local level, and I couldn't be more proud,” she said.

Chairperson Ortiz Legg thanked partner agencies and volunteers and named several participants in the response: Unified Command of California Interagency Incident Management Team 5; Los Padres National Forest; Santa Barbara County Fire Department; Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office; San Luis Obispo Office of Emergency Services; San Luis Obispo County Fire Department; San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office; San Luis Obispo County Public Health; and the Red Cross. Ortiz Legg said the fire was “now 11 days into actively burn” and acknowledged landowners and local hosts for donated facilities.

The chair listed facilities being used for incident command and evacuations, including Santa Margarita Ranch, Aurora Grande High School (new student life center), Five Cities Fire Authority facilities and Santa Margarita Elementary School, and noted a community meeting scheduled for that evening at the veterans hall in the city of San Luis Obispo at 7 p.m. The board adjourned and noted its next regular meeting would be Tuesday, Aug. 19.

The resolution ratifies the Emergency Services Director’s earlier proclamation; the proclamation text and related emergency orders were presented as a consent agenda item and no amendments or separate motions were recorded.