DFA Monitoring Situation of Filipinos in California Area Threatened by Big Wildfire

27 June 2018 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is closely monitoring the situation of close to two thousand Filipinos in the path of a dangerous wildfire in Northern California after authorities there have ordered residents to evacuate.

The DFA said the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is advising members of the Filipino Community in Lake County to heed evacuation orders after California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the affected area.

Consul General Henry Bensurto said there are more than 1,700 members of the Filipino Community in Lake County, located 178 kilometers from the state capital, Sacramento.

Consul General Bensurto said the Consulate has been in touch with authorities in Lake County who said that no Filipino has so far been reported to have been affected by the fire.

The fire, which broke out on Saturday evening, has scorched 11,500 acres of land, destroyed a number of homes and businesses and forced the evacuation of 3,000 residents.

Filipino nationals in the affected region who may require assistance are advised to get in touch with the Consulate at: +1 (415) 748-9888. END