Drought Emergency Declared For California; Six-Alarm Fire in Redwood City; Millions in Gang-Related Drugs, Firearms Seized in Contra Costa County

Welcome to the your weekend Northern California Patch roundup!

Today’s big news comes from Gov. Jerry Brown, who confirmed what many already know: California is in the middle of a major drought emergency. Read more on San Mateo Patch and check out the dramatic photos.

"'We have to recognize this is not a partisan adversary,' Brown said at a news conference in San Francisco Friday morning. "This is Mother Nature. We have to live within the resources we have,’ the governor said.”

“Brown said 2014 is projected to become the driest year on record in California. His proclamation of a state of emergency includes a series of executive orders requiring state agencies to aid affected farmers and communities by expediting water transfers and releasing stored water from reservoirs.”

“The governor also ordered state agencies to implement water conservation plans and called on all Californians to reduce their water usage by 20 percent.”

More top headlines from around Northern California Patch sites:

• Police Calls: Hug-seeking Woman in Tree Annoys Customers
• Six-Alarm Fire Burns Machine Shop in Redwood City
• Young Quadriplegic Slowly Putting Her Life Back Together
• Man in Jail in Florida Arrested for 2 San Ramon Bank Robberies
• Sting Seizes Gang-Related Drugs, Firearms Worth Millions in Contra Costa County
• Update: Cigarette Set Teen Ablaze at Concord BART Station
• Mom, Son Sent To Prison After Filing False IRS Tax Returns
• Man Arrested for Robbing Medical Marijuana Outside Dominican Hospital