Newsom Declares Emergency in Kern County While Assessing Borel Fire

Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Kern County on Tuesday to assess the damage from the ongoing Borel fire and announced that he signed an emergency proclamation allowing expedited state-funded resources and supplies to continue suppression efforts. The fire—which has been absorbed into the larger SQF Lightning Complex fire affecting nearly 90,000 acres in Kern and Tulare counties—was 17 percent contained July 30. “After years and years of drought and then two very, very wet rainy seasons, the early grass, the brush—this was anticipated, this was exactly what we imagined,” Mr. Newsom said during a press conference Tuesday. The proclamation will make additional emergency resources available and allow more California National Guard members to assist with emergency efforts....