May 3, 2022 - SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a proclamation declaring May 1-7, 2022, as “Wildfire Preparedness Week” in the State of California.
The text of the proclamation can be found here and a copy is below:
PROCLAMATION
In 2020 and 2021, California experienced some of the largest and most destructive fires in the state’s history. Amid intensifying climate impacts, California and much of the West continue to experience longer wildfire seasons, while record dry conditions have left most of the state in moderate to extreme drought. With California on the frontlines of this existential threat, the state is taking unprecedented action to make our communities more resilient to wildfire and improve forest health.
Building on our past budget investments, I’m proposing an additional $1.2 billion this year as part of a total $2.7 billion multi-year investment to step up forest management and other projects that decrease catastrophic wildfire risk. We’re also advancing robust funding for firefighters and firefighting equipment, including new fire hawks and helitankers. Through a collaborative effort across 20 different departments, funding from last year’s budget has launched over 550 new wildfire resilience projects in less than a year, including critical fuel breaks, home hardening, and prescribed burns. These investments also supported new jobs and businesses to get this vital wildfire protection work done faster.
Bringing federal, state, tribal, and local partners together to more effectively address the scale of this crisis, the state this March released a strategic plan to expand the use of prescribed fire and cultural burning – practices that help both prevent the start of fires and mitigate their spread. With a target of expanding beneficial fire to 400,000 acres annually by 2025, the plan will support our overall state-federal goal of treating 1 million acres annually by 2025. It is important that individual communities also take steps to become better fire-adapted, such as developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans focused on reducing and managing risk.
All of us have an essential role in protecting ourselves, loved ones and communities from wildfire. I urge all Californians to take lifesaving steps to stay prepared, including making their homes more fire-resistant, creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time. Now is the time to take action, learn more about all aspects of fire safety and preparedness at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 1-7, 2022, as “Wildfire Preparedness Week.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 2nd day of May 2022.
Source: Office of the Governor
