California may have reached its breaking point when it comes to the amount of money it has had to spend in fighting wildfires.
Especially when it comes to the lack of funding to prevent those wildfires â leading to that much costlier scenario of fighting the wildfires in the long run.
The state realized its worst wildfire year ever in 2020 with estimates that as much as $3 billion was spent to fight wildfires in the state. It s also estimated the negative economic impact on the state when it comes to the wildfires will be as much as $10 billion.
So it s expected when the State Legislature begins the new year on January 11 it and Governor Gavin Newsom will finally take serious action when it comes to wildfire prevention and mitigation. A coalition representing numerous organizations recently took action to make sure that happens.
Press release content from PR Newswire. The AP news staff was not involved in its creation.
Broad Coalition Of Agriculture, Business, Environmental, Forestry Leaders Call On Gov. Newsom, Legislature For “Urgent Action” On Wildfires
December 17, 2020 GMT
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ A new coalition of forestry, agricultural, business and environmental groups today called on Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to provide stable and sustainable financial resources of more than $1.5 billion in the Governor’s upcoming budget designed to thwart wildfires that will provide multiple benefits to wildlife, water quality and security, as well as climate mitigation and resilience.
The renewed push for action comes after California experienced more than 9,600 fires in 2020, with more than 4.1 million total acres burned, 31 fatalities, and over 10,400 structures damaged or destroyed.