Due to the effects of the "Rim Fire" raging in Tuolumne County, Governor Jerry Brown announced late Friday a state of emergency for the city and county of San Francisco. Why? Well, according to the proclamation, the blaze still raging in Yosemite and near Hetch Hetchy could cause temporary interruption of electricity and water to San Francisco.

According to KRON 4, "The wildfire has already caused damage to electrical infrastructure that serves San Francisco." Though the blaze is 150 miles away, San Francisco receives 85 percent of its water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, which is around 4 miles from the fire. USA Today reports that the reservoir "was forced to shut down two of its three hydroelectric power stations in the area."

Brown's proclamation reads as follows:

A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on August 22, 2013, I declared a State of Emergency to exist in the County of Tuolumne, due to the wildfires therein; and

WHEREAS the wildfires that started in Tuolumne County have caused damage to electrical infrastructure serving the City and County of San Francisco, and now threaten damage to property, equipment, and resources of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department; and

WHEREAS the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has been forced to shut down transmission lines with the result that the City and County is affected by the wildfires in the County of Tuolumne and is likely to be further affected should the fire cause additional damage to the City and County of San Francisco’s water and electrical assets in Tuolumne County, including the possible temporary interruption of electricity and/or water delivery;

WHEREAS on August 22, 2013, due to the imminent threat to critical infrastructure assets, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission declared an emergency, and the City and County of San Francisco declared a local emergency and requested that I proclaim a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this emergency, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within the state that affects the City and County of San Francisco.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the City and County of San Francisco.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 23rd day of August, 2013.