Local News in Brief : Redondo in State of Emergency

Gov. George Deukmejian on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Redondo Beach for the second time in six months as the result of a May 27 fire that destroyed much of the city’s historic pier and caused $7 million in damage.

The governor’s declaration is a prerequisite to the city qualifying for state disaster assistance funds and for obtaining a similar presidential declaration, City Manager Tim Casey said.

But the city will be eligible for state funds only if the fire, which apparently started in electrical wiring beneath a restaurant, is interpreted as a natural disaster, Casey said.

Deukmejian and President Reagan both declared a state of emergency in the area after a January storm that caused $17 million in damage to the Redondo Beach waterfront.