Schwarzenegger: California is Like 'One big family'

Firefighters douse a hot spot yesterday in the ruins of a home in the Oak Ridge Mobile Home Park | AP Photo/Reed Saxon

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke just before 10 this morning at a press conference held at Hansen Dam in regards to the Sayre Fire, which continues to burn in Los Angeles County.

Schwarzenegger began by expressing gratitude to elected officials and emergency personnel authorities involved in the firefight, and admitted, "it's been a few tough days for the people of Southern California." Having signed declarations of states of emergency in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties in the wake of the fires, he went on to call our recent weather conditions "the perfect storm" for fires, with the high winds and temperatures and the dryness of the brush.

The Governor explained that due to the efforts of Cal Fire, he was able to allocate resources to Southern California such as firefighting aircraft ahead of time because they expected fire conditions this week.

After an update on the current statistics of the Sayre Fire, Schwarzenegger said that we "learn new things" with every major fire incident; in this case he stressed the need to reconsider the materials used in constructing mobile homes like the ones that burned "like matches" in Oakridge and be vigilant about checking the ability of generators in hospitals like Olive View Medical Center to work in an emergency.

Following remarks by other officials, Schwarzenegger echoed gratitude for the work of the firefighters, and assured victims of the Sayre Fire that "the state is with [them]" during their time of need. He addressed concerns regarding the budget crisis in the state and its possible impact on funds for emergencies like this weekend's fires, emphasizing "we always have enough money for emergencies," in California, and that everyone in our state is like "one big family."

Schwarzenegger is due to travel to Orange County next to speak there in regards to the "Triangle/Freeway Complex Fire" that continues to burn.