Governor signs Wood’s Forest Fire Prevention Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill from North Coast Assembly Member Jim Wood creating a Forest Fire Prevention Entity within the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

“It is clear that we cannot get away from this wildfire crisis out of this crisis,” Wood said in a press release. “California needs both a world-class firefighting force and a world-class fire preparedness and mitigation force with the resources to do the critical job at hand.”

Under the bill, Assembly Bill 9, eight existing programs and tasks focused on community-based fire prevention, preparedness and mitigation efforts currently under CalFire’s responsibility will be transferred to this new branch. The new entity will use block grants and work to help regional entities develop a pipeline of wood and fuel reduction projects that are part of a coordinated strategy across the region and state.

“What communities need to do to prevent and prepare for catastrophic wildfires varies enormously in this diverse state,” said Wood. “Dwelling density, type of vegetation and topography are just a few of the many considerations that affect the types of work communities must undertake to prepare for the next fire. This bill ensures that strategies are regionally focused to meet the unique needs of each community.

See the full press release from Wood’s office below:

Governor Newsom signs Assembly Member Jim Wood’s bill

to create an entity dedicated to forest fire prevention work

SACRAMENTO – Today Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 9 by Assembly Member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) a bill to create a separate entity to do wildfire prevention work .

“During my time in the Legislature, we have had the most devastating forest fires, year after year,” said Wood. “And year after year, even as we increased our firefighting strength and resources, the work of forest fire prevention had to take a back seat as our resources were needed almost full-time to fight the fires. fires. It’s time, and I’m grateful to my colleagues and the Governor for supporting a dedicated workforce and resources that can help plan and accomplish the work of prevention – vegetation management and house hardening. – throughout the year. It is our only way out of this endless cycle of forest fires. “

Forest fires have been around in California for centuries; however, the last seven of the state’s 10 deadliest fires have occurred since 2017 and claimed the lives of more than 150 people, including the camp fire in 2018, where the blaze destroyed 18,804 structures and 85 people lost their lives, devastating the community.

“This year more than 2 million acres have burned, entire communities have been lost, the lives of thousands of people have been changed forever and the wildfire season is not over yet,” said Wood. “And to make matters worse, despite California’s best efforts to make progress in protecting our environment and improving air quality, these wildfires are taking it away from us, and it must stop,” Wood said.

AB 9 is creating a new branch within the Office of the State Fire Marshal that will focus exclusively on CAL FIRE’s community fire prevention, preparedness and mitigation efforts. It will move eight existing programs and tasks currently distributed in CAL FIRE to this new branch. In addition, the bill requires all program staff and leaders dedicated to these programs to be the lowest priority workforce to respond to forest fire suppression missions.

“What communities need to do to prevent and prepare for catastrophic wildfires varies enormously in this diverse state,” said Wood. “Housing density, type of vegetation and topography are just a few of the many considerations that affect the types of work communities must undertake to prepare for the next fire. This bill ensures that strategies are regionally focused to meet the unique needs of each community.

AB 9 codifies the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program (RFFC), which received $ 50 million under the 2021 Advance Budget Action. By providing flexible block grants, the RFFC supports regional entities working with local, state and federal partners to develop a pipeline of wildland and fuel reduction projects that are part of a coordinated strategy across the region and state.

“It is clear that we cannot fight fires to get out of this wildfire crisis,” said Wood. “California needs both a world-class firefighting force and a world-class fire preparedness and mitigation force with the resources to do the critical job at hand.”

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