$50,000 Reward Offered Over California Wildfires

The reward, authorized by California's Governor, is offered toward the arrest and conviction of arsonist.

Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

(SACRAMENTO) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced a $50,000 reward for information leading toward the arrest and conviction in a California court of the person or persons responsible for setting the Santiago Fire. Below is the full text of the Governor's proclamation.

The reward is over more than 15 fires burning in southern California. It takes into account the fact that the fires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres, including thousands of homes, businesses and structures.

The state of California's statistics account for the evacuation of 321,500 people, Schwarzenegger said.

"In response to the fires, I issued a proclamation of emergency for seven counties, including Orange County, and the President of the United States declared a major disaster in those counties."

He says one of the fires in southern California is the Santiago Fire in Orange County, which has burned more than 20,000 acres, causing more than 40,000 people to evacuate.