SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KRON) — Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to wildfires burning in Northern California.
The governor proclaimed the state of emergency in Siskiyou County due to the Antelope Fire and Placer and Nevada counties due to the River Fire.
The blazes have collectively burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and forced mandatory evacuations.
Thousands of firefighters are working to put out the two major fires.
Newsom announced earlier Thursday that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from FEMA to support the state’s response to the River Fire, which has so far burned 2,400 acres and destroyed or damaged about 80 structures.
The fire started at a campground and has now forced thousands of people to evacuate. More than 500 firefighters are working to put out the fire that is close to more populated parts of the region.
As of Thursday morning, the fire was 0% contained.
The Dixie Fire burning more north, has flattened the small town of Greenville. CAL Fire says so far, 45 structures have been destroyed and more than 300,000 acres have burned.
Nearly 5,000 firefighters, dozens of helicopters and hundreds of engines are trying to control it.
As of Thursday, the fire is 35% contained.
This is California’s third FMAG so far this fire season, the other two were granted for the Dixie Fire and Lava Fire.