Schwarzenegger Visits Hemet-Ryan Airport

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Hemet-Ryan Airport last Friday to hold a press conference about the Santa Ana winds that wreaked havoc just prior to the fires that ignited afterwards.

Darrel Favrhow, a professional photographer, and newsletter editor of the Ryland Oasis Community in Menifee, was on hand, with press credentials, to photograph the Governator himself.

He offers the following report and photographs...

Hemet-Ryan Airport, November 2, 2007—Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the flightline of Hemet-Ryan airport today, greeting and thanking the Aviation firefighting groups, CDF crews and other firefighters for their hard work and tireless efforts.

Following the tour of various types of firefighting aircraft from the S-2s to Sky cranes, Super Huey helicopters and OV-10 Bronco spotter planes, Governor Schwarzenegger stepped up the to microphones for a flight line news conference. He issued a proclamation of a State Of Emergency in Riverside County due to the extreme, damaging winds.

In addition to raising the threat of wildfires in the region, the winds have damaged power lines, trees, streets, homes, business, schools and government infrastructure. They have caused more than six million dollars in public facility damage.

The Governor's emergency proclamation allows the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deploy emergency personnel, equipment and facilities and provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.