2018 Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County. Fire activity in division aplha/echo taken by Arrowhead IHC behind Cedar Lodge on July 17, 2018
August 30, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) announced that his bill to offset the cost of maintaining defensible space around homes and reduce the risk of forest fires was signed into law.
The bill, AB 1954, extends a pilot program brought forward by Assemblyman Patterson in 2014 that allows landowners clearing defensible space to sell the timber they cut down without a timber harvesting plan from Cal Fire – a cost of up to $45,000.
“The incentive created by this bill is more than just financial,” said Patterson. “It helps untie the hands of property owners who want to make their property fire-safe but couldn’t sell the wood they cut down to get it off their property – creating a new fire hazard.”
“With foresters and landowners becoming more familiar with this program, we can expect to see this exemption being used more frequently, which will result in safer working conditions for firefighters,” Kieran O’Leary President of the California Licensed Foresters Association said. “AB1954 is smart legislation that continues a program that reduces hazardous fuels without the need for grants or bonds that further burden California’s tax payers.”
The bill was supported by the California Forestry Association, the California Licensed Foresters Association, Forest Landowners of California, the California Chamber of Commerce and many others.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson represents the 23rd Assembly District, which includes Auberry, Centerville, Clovis, Fresno, Friant, Minkler, Shaver Lake and Three Rivers.
Source: Assemblyman Jim Patterson