Governor declares state of emergency in Inyo County
July 12, 2007

FRESNO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in Inyo
County yesterday as firefighters got some help from a storm system that
brought higher humidity throughout the state.

The emergency declaration means the eastern Sierra Nevada county will have
more state resources to cope with the fires, which have charred 35,000 acres
since Friday and caused the contamination of the primary water supply for
the tiny town of Independence.

The blazes in Inyo National Forest, sparked by lightning Friday, rank as the
state's largest fire complex. Flames were mostly contained despite 30 mph
to 40 mph winds and lightning strikes that caused some flare-ups Tuesday
night, authorities said.

The Inyo fire injured 11 firefighters and destroyed 6 homes in an area north
of Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental United States.