Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency to speed Pack Fire recovery in Mono County

Mono County, California – Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency in Mono County. Recovery work is still going on after the Pack Fire, which burned in the eastern Sierra Nevada last month and caused lasting damage to communities.

The wildfire started on November 13 near Lake Crowley and swiftly moved through areas of the Long Valley area. As the flames spread, officials instructed people in the Long Valley and McGee Creek neighborhoods that they had to leave. About 1,800 people were told to leave or warned to leave at the height of the incident. Crews were working to put out the fire and protect homes nearby.

By December 3, firefighters had completely put out the Pack Fire. At that point, the fire had destroyed 30 homes and businesses and damaged six more. There are still no orders to leave, and people have been allowed to go back to their neighborhoods since then.

The governor’s emergency declaration is meant to help Mono County get through the recovery phase faster. One of its goals is to make it easier to get rid of hazardous household waste and debris from houses and businesses that were damaged by fire. State authorities said these steps are meant to speed up the process and assist property owners start cleaning up and rebuilding as quickly as possible.

People who were harmed by the fire can now get help from both the state and the federal government. The U.S. Small Business Administration has agreed to give California disaster funding because of the Pack Fire. Because of this, homeowners, renters, and businesses that suffered financial losses because of the wildfire can now get low-interest disaster loans.

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Local officials continue to follow up on the damage and working with state and federal partners to make sure that resources get to the people who need them. Even while the immediate danger has passed, it will take months for Mono County to clean debris, fix infrastructure, and help residents rebuild after the fire.

Residents can apply here.