Top 6 Ways California is Preparing for Wildfires

[quaint]

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

Published: May 03, 2023

SACRAMENTO – It’s Wildfire Preparedness Week, a time to focus on how to protect yourself from wildfires. Here are the top 6 things Governor Gavin Newsom, the Legislature, and the state have done to protect Californians from wildfires and create more resilient communities:

RECORD INVESTMENTS: Investing a record $2.7 billion to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires by managing our forests and bolstering manpower.

MORE FIREFIGHTERS: Added 37 additional fire crews statewide last year, on top of the 16 firefighter crews newly created in 2021. An additional $671.4 million in 2022-23 will add 1,265 new positions and expand fire crews, air attack operations, and provide for additional relief for CAL FIRE staff to meet the demands of wildland firefighting in a changing climate.

WORLD’S LARGEST AERIAL FLEET: In addition to CAL FIRE’s existing fleet of 62 aircraft, 18 exclusive use helicopters and 6 exclusive use fixed wing aircraft were hired and strategically located throughout the state to provide an even greater response capability. That includes new aircraft for flying night operations and new infrared intelligence aircraft for incident commanders. Last year’s budget provided four additional Fire Hawk helicopters, adding to the 12 Fire Hawks purchased by the state since Governor Newsom was elected in 2018. California is the first state in the nation to fly night firefighting operations, completing the first-ever night-flying operation last year.

TREATING MORE ACRES: CAL FIRE treated approximately 110,925 acres across more than 600 projects last fiscal year in preparation for wildfire season, exceeding the state’s goal of treating 100,000 acres by 2025. So far during 2022-23, more than 420 fuels reduction projects have been completed – covering 43,065 acres treated.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE: Committed to educating communities through defensible space inspections, completing nearly 250,000 in 2022, and our grant programs provide millions each year to support local community outreach and education efforts.

LONG-TERM, SHARED PARTNERSHIP: In August 2020, Governor Newsom signed the Shared Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, mapping out a 20-year, science-based strategy to achieve wildfire resilience and forest health. This commitment included a goal of jointly improving 1 million acres of California’s forest and wildlands annually by 2025.

Having a wet year doesn’t mean that we’re out of the woods when it comes to wildfires. Be aware and stay prepared: go to ReadyforWildfire.org for preparedness tips and ListosCalifornia.org to be disaster ready.

I just love our state.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I love our state too!

It’s well run by smart people!

[NullTuples]

11. It's really nice that way!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

12. me too

[usonian]

2. Yikes, all the rain makes vegetation grow, which dries out and spreads fires.

Not everyone can afford goats!

CalFire has a Ready for Wildfire site. Recommended for everyone.
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/

Defensible Space is described here:
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-ready/defensible-space/

There's a lengthy brochure. Just go to the online flip book https://www.paperturn-view.com/cal-fire-communications/cal-fire-ready-set-go-brochure-final-files-v4-print?pid=MjU252417&p=8&v=2%3F and view online or select download pdf from the menu there. (44MB)

And a short flyer.
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/wp-content/uploads/DefensibleSpaceFlyer.pdf
If any of these links stop working, let me know and I'll edit the post accordingly.

[quaint]

3. Lots of good information.

All the links except "brochure" work for me.
Thanks.

[usonian]

4. Thx, the url is loaded with mystery codes. I'll edit.

[NullTuples]

7. The local fire department comes by every other year-ish

They go door to door especially along the streets that border open spaces & write up a quick report listing the aspects of the home's defensible space that need improving. The assumption among residents is that insurance companies will have access to those reports, so compliance has been good. Honestly, I think most of the people here *want* very much to comply and protect not only their homes but the entire neighborhood. It's amazing to see how much the neighborhood has changed in five years. We all lived through the barrage of fires starting in 2017 even if our homes were not immediately threatened. I would imagine most other areas are the same.

[usonian]

9. That's really good.

I live in the foothills and CalFire has visited my home twice in about 7 years. They get very busy.
We are all as proactive as we can be here, but my first inspection, I couldn't be very proactive, because it was on the first or second day after I moved in.

One hillside needed serious brush removal. Being on a ridge, the other 3 sides were very clear.
I started cutting brush down, but a rather substantial portion of it was stealth poison oak.
Trip to E.R.
I hired a crew to finish the job.
Apparently, some people are just immune to it.

Over time, I cleaned out acres of brush "below" me, and created some big fire-breaks in the process.

[NullTuples]

10. I know that discomfort. Our first year I cut down a sapling. It was poison oak.

I'd used a portable sawzall (inline reciprocating saw with a long blade) and was covered in plant juice on one side of my body. Poison oak plant juice. Like you I also made a trip the ER. I found out that although I'd been immune before puberty, bodies change.

The next year I went after the junipers planted in 1969 by the second owner. They're like so-called "fatwood" kindling in a fire thanks to the high amounts of oil.

Strangely, all of the blackberry brambles died during the drought and haven't come back; they were last on my list.

It's wonderful to read & hear so many people doing what they can to help manage the danger; thank you!

[crud]

5. I'm close to where the planes take off from Sacramento

During fire season, I can see the direction planes are going and I speculate where they might be headed. Then I look at the local news to see if something is reported. They have been using them as a quick response to keep the fires small which seems like a good strategy. Newsom has really stepped up in a lot of ways. He governs as a problem solver and delivers.

[NullTuples]

8. Might I recommend FlightRadar24 if you want to track them?

https://www.flightradar24.com

I was sad to read that the 747 supertanker was retired by the investment group that owned it as it was more profitable to sell it to a cargo carrier, but it looks like a new one may be ready for operation! It's a nose-loading 747-200 operated by Logistic Air, who bought the fire retardant system from the previous owner and put it into a new plane. No news as to whether it will fly out of McClellan, but where else is there, really?

https://fireaviation.com/2022/05/04/747-supertanker-expected-to-be-fire-ready-before-the-end-of-this-year/

[Not Heidi]

6. "I just love our state." So do I! n/t