A Wildfire Burns in Mariposa County
March 19, 2016 - On Wednesday, Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3 on Resources and Transportation considered several budget issues, including the appropriation of monies from the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund (SRAFPF) for tree mortality mitigation projects within the State Responsibility Area (SRA).
The 2015-16 State Budget provided $5 million in local grants from the SRA Fund to enhance the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) ongoing fire prevention activities. In February, CAL FIRE awarded $1.7 million for local projects to aid in the removal of dead and dying trees within Fresno, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties, all of which have been designated by the State as “high hazard zones” for tree mortality. The remaining $3.2 million will be distributed over the coming months, pending procedural process, and will be used to support fire prevention efforts throughout the state. According to CAL FIRE, 178 SRA grant fund applications, totaling $13 million, have been received so far this year.
Subcommittee staff initially recommended the approval of $20 million, for two years, from the SRAFPF. Assembly Member Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals) stressed the impact tree mortality has had on local communities and stated that more money is needed to combat this issue, making a motion to approve $40 million total funding from the SRAFPF. Ultimately, the Subcommittee compromised and approved a total of $30 million, for two years, from the SRAFPF to address the tree mortality crisis. The SRAFPF Grant Program provides funding for projects aimed at fuel hazard reduction, fire prevention education and training, and fire prevention planning activities.
Source: Rural County Representatives of California
