March 3, 2021 - Sacramento – The state Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy approved a $573 million 
proposal on early action wildfire budget issues on Tuesday, expanding on Governor Newsom’s request for $323 million in funding in this year’s budget. The early action wildfire package will be part of negotiations with the Assembly and the Newsom administration.
“The overarching goal of this bipartisan package is to quickly increase wildland resiliency to improve wildfire prevention,” said Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), the committee’s chairman. “It provides resources to create more wildfire fuel breaks, purchase equipment, harden communities, add fire crews and expedite reviews and permitting. Approving this proposal will allow crews across the state to immediately get to work on the many urgent projects that are necessary to prevent wildfires, protect property, and save lives.”
The subcommittee’s early-action wildfire package includes $273 million for resilient wildlands, $139 million for wildfire fuel breaks, $53 million for community hardening, $35 million for fire crews and $32 million for cooling centers, and clean air/hydration centers, among other projects.
The subcommittee package contains $89 million to state conservancies. It will help ensure that a variety of natural lands across the state will benefit from wildland resilience funding. The package allows for expediting contracting and procurement provisions to avoid delays as the state prepares for the next season.
The early action wildfire package is only part of the state’s overall efforts to mitigate wildfires. Additional funding will be approved when the Legislature adopts the 2021-22 budget in June.
More than 4.2 million acres were burned in 2020 California wildfires, the worst year on record. Over 10,000 structures were destroyed. The August Complex fire burned over 1 million acres, becoming the largest fire in the state’s history.
Senator Wieckowski represents the 10th District, which includes southern Alameda County and parts of Santa Clara County.
Source: Senator Bob Wieckowski
