Lake County commissioners ratify emergency declaration for Willow Fire

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners on June 30 ratified a local disaster emergency for the Willow Fire, formalizing a declaration that County Manager Candace Grimes said she signed on Sunday at 7:07 p.m. "So on Sunday, evening at 07:07PM, I declared, a local disaster emergency, for the Willow Fire," Grimes said during the brief meeting. The ratification makes the signed declaration part of the county record so the county can pursue state and federal resources to recoup wildfire-related expenditures.

Grimes told commissioners the declaration was made because the county anticipated the need to request outside resources and to capture eligible expenditures for reimbursement; she said the governing body must ratify and record the declaration within seven days of signing. Grimes moved to ratify the declaration; the chair seconded, and the transcript records four vocal "Aye" responses. Individual votes were not named in the record. The meeting concluded with the chair stating, "This concludes a special meeting of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners," and adjournment at about 12:32 p.m.