California Governor Declares State of Emergency After Wildfires Break Out

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as fires burned across the Golden State.

“We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions. California and its federal and local partners are working in lockstep to meet the challenge and remain vigilant in the face of continued dangerous weather conditions," Newsom said in a statement. 

— CA Fire Scanner (@CAFireScanner) August 18, 2020

​Newsom earlier this week obtained Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enhance California's response to the fires in Napa, Nevada and Monterey counties. He also signed an emergency proclamation and executive order to address the effects of a heat wave plaguing the state.

Firefighters are battling dozens of wildfires across the state as it faces record-breaking temperatures as well as lightning-fueled thunderstorms due to a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A wildfire on Monday destroyed four homes in Nevada County and forced thousands of residents in the area of Grass Valley and Nevada City to evacuate, the Sacramento Bee reported.