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California Governor Gray Davis Holds Press Conference
Aired October 30, 2003 - 15:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: We're taking you now quickly live to San Diego County, California Governor Gray Davis talking about the wildfires and the efforts of firefighters, including those who have been injured.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ... fighting fires in Southern California.
They are standing up to the worst of Mother Nature. And, in so doing, they represent California's very best. I am so proud of them. And I know, as governor of this state, I speak for all 35 million people, in saying we will never forget these firefighters. We'll never forget the people who stood up to Mother Nature's fury to defend our homes, our businesses and to protect our lives.
Now, just a couple housekeeping things. As you may know, all of the state's firefighting assets have been deployed. We have 12,600 firefighters actively fighting this fire. Some come from our neighbors, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. I have spoken to all their governors. I will be forever grateful to them for their assistance.
We have about 121 aircraft and helicopters currently at our disposal to fight these fires. About 70 of those are fixed-wing and 50 of them are helicopters. We also have accepted assistance from anyone who will give it. And I want to say this clearly. Anyone else who will give us assistance, we will accept it, pending the approval of the U.S. Forest Service.
Canada has sent us two super scoopers. I just got off the phone with the premier of Alberta, Premier Gordon Campbell. He has up to 1,100 firefighters he can make at our disposal. And he has up to 10 air tankers. We're hopeful, if the U.S. Forest Service approves the use of that manpower and equipment, they can get here and help relieve some of the folks who have been on the line here for seven or eight days.
I have issued declarations of emergency for five counties, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura. The president has promptly responded to all of them. And I expect, shortly, he will to the Riverside declaration. I thank him for his extraordinary help. Yesterday, I signed an executive order which will relieve every county of paying the 25 percent cost of fighting this fire.
Once Director Dallas Jones makes a determination that the county has exhausted their resources...
KING: We're listening here to California Governor Gray Davis, paying tribute to the firefighters working tirelessly against the wildfires in his state, also thanking other states and Canada for their support in the firefighting effort.
Stay with us. We're going to leave from this news conference. Any other developments, we'll bring them to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 30, 2003 - 15:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: We're taking you now quickly live to San Diego County, California Governor Gray Davis talking about the wildfires and the efforts of firefighters, including those who have been injured.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ... fighting fires in Southern California.
They are standing up to the worst of Mother Nature. And, in so doing, they represent California's very best. I am so proud of them. And I know, as governor of this state, I speak for all 35 million people, in saying we will never forget these firefighters. We'll never forget the people who stood up to Mother Nature's fury to defend our homes, our businesses and to protect our lives.
Now, just a couple housekeeping things. As you may know, all of the state's firefighting assets have been deployed. We have 12,600 firefighters actively fighting this fire. Some come from our neighbors, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. I have spoken to all their governors. I will be forever grateful to them for their assistance.
We have about 121 aircraft and helicopters currently at our disposal to fight these fires. About 70 of those are fixed-wing and 50 of them are helicopters. We also have accepted assistance from anyone who will give it. And I want to say this clearly. Anyone else who will give us assistance, we will accept it, pending the approval of the U.S. Forest Service.
Canada has sent us two super scoopers. I just got off the phone with the premier of Alberta, Premier Gordon Campbell. He has up to 1,100 firefighters he can make at our disposal. And he has up to 10 air tankers. We're hopeful, if the U.S. Forest Service approves the use of that manpower and equipment, they can get here and help relieve some of the folks who have been on the line here for seven or eight days.
I have issued declarations of emergency for five counties, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura. The president has promptly responded to all of them. And I expect, shortly, he will to the Riverside declaration. I thank him for his extraordinary help. Yesterday, I signed an executive order which will relieve every county of paying the 25 percent cost of fighting this fire.
Once Director Dallas Jones makes a determination that the county has exhausted their resources...
KING: We're listening here to California Governor Gray Davis, paying tribute to the firefighters working tirelessly against the wildfires in his state, also thanking other states and Canada for their support in the firefighting effort.
Stay with us. We're going to leave from this news conference. Any other developments, we'll bring them to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
