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Federal wildfire crews are stretched thin. California is stepping in to help
State crews are taking on more fuels-reduction work on federal lands as the Forest Service loses at least 20% of its staff, officials said.
- Jonathan Fitch, manager of Cal Fire's vegetation management program, spearheaded three agreements with the U.S. Forest Service allowing California to clear fuels and manage timber on federal lands.
- California is stepping into gaps created by Congress' long-term underinvestment in federal fuels management, following years of political feuding between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over forest maintenance.
- The Forest Service lost at least 20% of its staff last year amid reorganization and research facility closures, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, hindering the agency's ability to provide accurate data.
- Budgetary changes threaten the state's capacity to continue filling federal gaps, as the Department of Finance reports wildfire resilience grants are dropping from $200 million annually to $38 million.
- With wildfires burning millions of acres over the last decade, projects near high-risk sites like the Diablo Canyon Power Plant remain vital as crews recently tackled the Timber Fire near Big Sur.
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19 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 29%
C 64%
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