2018 Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County - Plumbed Fire Line Off of Big Oak Flat Road  Photo credit: USFS

December 9, 2019 - Senator Kamala Harris has introduced the Wildfire Defense Act (S. 2882) to help local communities defend themselves from the growing danger of wildfires.  This bill will empower communities to implement science-based methods for mitigating wildfire damage and provide funding to design and implement new Community Wildfire Defense Plans (CWDP) with community members, first responders, and relevant state agencies.  

Specifically, the legislation will invest $1 billion per year to: continuously update wildfire hazard maps; provide grants of up to $250,000 to develop a CWDP and grants of up to $10 million to implement a CWDP; complete a report on all federal authorities and programs to protect communities from wildfires; and study how a CWDP could be used as certification for insurance companies assessing a community resilience.  Representative Jared Huffman (D-North Coast) is introducing similar legislation (H.R. 5901) in the House to achieve these goals.

Senator Harris’ press release can be accessed here.  Representative Huffman’s press release can be accessed here.
Source: Rural County Representatives of California

Related: U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Communities from Growing Threat of Wildfires - Especially in California