Siskiyou County Proclaims Local State of Emergency in Response to Illegal Pesticides

Yreka, CA – On July 1, 2025, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously (5–0) to proclaim a local state of emergency in response to the escalating threat posed by the illegal use of highly toxic pesticides associated with illicit cannabis cultivation and processing operations.

The emergency proclamation cites the widespread presence of unregulated, foreign-labeled pesticides—many of which are banned for use in the United States—that are being misused as fumigants in enclosed grow sites. These chemicals, when burned, create thick, poisonous smoke that presents serious risks to public health, the environment, waterways, and first responder safety.

The emergency proclamation outlines significant findings from county investigations and certified laboratory analyses, including:

• Identification of over 27 pesticides—some classified as carcinogens, nerve agents, and groundwater pollutants;
• Discovery of foreign pesticide products imported outside of legal regulatory channels at grow sites throughout the county;
• Increasing exposure risks to firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel due to unsafe conditions at contaminated sites.

The proclamation directs the County to form a multi-agency emergency response task force, pursue state and federal assistance, and launch public education campaigns in coordination with agencies such as CalEPA, the DEA, and the U.S. EPA.

As part of the emergency proclamation, the Board is also requesting that the Governor of California issue a State of Emergency proclamation to support local mitigation and enforcement efforts.

For more information and to read the full emergency resolution, please see below.