Lake County commissioners ratify local disaster declaration for Willow Fire

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners on June 30 ratified a local disaster emergency declaration for the Willow Fire, clearing the way for the county to seek state and federal reimbursement for response and recovery expenses, County Manager Candace Grimes said.

Grimes told commissioners she declared the local disaster emergency on Sunday at 7:07 p.m. and signed the declaration the same day. She said the board has seven days to ratify the declaration and record the document so the county can draw on outside resources. "So on Sunday, evening at 07:07PM, I declared, a local disaster emergency, for the Willow Fire," Grimes said. She added that once recorded, the declaration "allows us to draw down on different resources so some of the expenditures we're having can be recouped through state and or federal dollars."

Grimes moved that the board ratify the declaration; the Chair seconded the motion. The Chair then called for a voice vote; commissioners present responded "aye," and the motion carried. No roll-call vote or individual commissioner names were recorded in the transcript.

The special meeting was brief: the Chair opened the session at 12:30 p.m., the board handled the single item, and the Chair adjourned the meeting at 12:32 p.m. The ratified and recorded declaration will enable county staff to pursue state and federal assistance and potential reimbursement for eligible expenses related to the Willow Fire.

The meeting transcript did not list specific dollar amounts, the number of properties or people affected, or deadlines for any aid requests beyond the seven-day ratification window for recording the declaration.