A SIEGE OF FIRE : Emergency Declarations May Trigger Federal Help

Gov. George Deukmejian declared a state of emergency Friday in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, triggering a variety of state assistance ranging from tax relief to low-interest loans for those who suffered damage and loss in fires that have ravaged Southern California this week.

Beyond what the state can offer, the declarations pave the way for President Bush to declare stricken regions as national disaster areas and pour in federal resources to help affected residents, officials said.

The governor on Thursday had issued emergency proclamations for Santa Barbara and Glendale disaster areas.

“The main reason we wanted the declaration is so that the president can declare a federal disaster area as soon as possible,” said John Passerello, assistant director of the state Office of Emergency Services. “We can’t get federal funds for rebuilding and temporary housing until the President does that.”

Deukmejian has written to the President requesting the federal declaration and the White House is expected to reach a decision today or Sunday, Passerello said. An emergency aid center staffed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies is set to begin operating at 8 a.m. today in Goleta.

The governor’s declaration also allows him to tap the state’s reserve set up for economic uncertainties to help the areas hardest hit by the fires. Deukmejian has insisted on maintaining a billion-dollar reserve in the state budget, of which up to $40 million can be used for disasters.

However, only $19 million remains in the disaster fund and it is unclear whether it will be replenished, according to the Department of Finance. The state fiscal year ends Saturday, and lawmakers have not yet passed a new budget for the 1990-91 fiscal year. Some legislators oppose Deukmejian’s request that they approve another billion-dollar reserve for next year.

State officials say no state emergency money has been required yet in Santa Barbara or Glendale. But they added that the funds may soon be needed, because the local governments fighting the blaze may soon turn to the state for help.

Among the other impacts of Deukmejian’s emergency declaration:

The state’s mutual aid system, which requires local firefighters from other parts of the state to help combat the blaze, has been activated. This was already starting to happen before the governor’s declaration, but his move ensures that the state’s full firefighting resources can be deployed.

The state will provide property tax relief for damaged or destroyed private property. Homeowners will be able to rebuild their residences and still be taxed at the old property tax rate.

In the absence of other assistance such as insurance, the state will provide low-interest loans to help rebuild homes damaged or destroyed in the blaze.