Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency on Tuesday, asking Californians to cut back on their water consumption by “at least 20%” as the state faces its driest year on record.
“We ought to be ready for a long, continued, persistent effort to restrain our water use,” he said at a press conference, according to the LA Times.
Activists, lawmakers and members of the farming industry have been lobbying the governor for weeks to take action. Reservoirs across the state have reportedly hit record lows and many cities are encouraging water rationing.Â
The dryness has also contributed to the rapid spread of the Colby Fire burning in Glendora, which was allegedly sparked by an illegal campfire on Wednesday. Five homes have burned and more than 1,700 acres have charred in the fire, with the blaze 30 percent contained.
Malibu and the surrounding areas have been on high alert all month, with temperatures rising to uncomfortably high marks and Santa Ana winds strongly gusting through. Two small brush fires broke out nearby earlier this week in Pacific Palisades and Topanga.