NEW: Report shows major progress in California on preparing for wildfire, avoiding millions of tons of carbon pollution and toxic smoke
California, using funding from SB 901, awarded more than 660 grants and 316 fuel reduction projects, treating hundreds of thousands of acres and protecting communities.
- Forest Health Grants funded during the five-year reporting period will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 11.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over their lifetimes. The state treated more than 233,000 acres, reforested severely burned areas, and reduced the likelihood of high-severity wildfire across nearly 150,000 acres. More than 60% of the treatments will benefit areas with high biodiversity value.
- Over 400 planning, fuel reduction, and public education projects in 51 counties including through the Wildfire Prevention Program, where nearly all of them aided in fire suppression and/or reduced fire behavior.
- More than 900 forest and wildland fire professionals were trained through 13 grants to expand forestry and wood products infrastructure and eight grants to community colleges, school districts, and other organizations through the Business and Workforce Development Program.
“We’re seeing what sustained investment in wildfire resilience can deliver: safer communities, healthier forests, cleaner air and more jobs,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “Under Governor Newsom and the Legislature’s leadership, California has dramatically increased the pace and scale of this work, and the results show these investments are making a real difference on the ground. But even as we make progress, hotter, drier conditions make California more vulnerable to severe wildfire — so we have to keep investing, keep scaling what works to reduce wildfire risk and better protect people and the places they call home.”
“CAL FIRE and our partners have delivered measurable results because of SB 901— protecting watersheds, wildlife habitat, and communities, while creating jobs and expanding training opportunities for the next generation of forestry and fire professionals,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “These achievements demonstrate the power of sustained investment and collaboration in wildfire resilience, leading to safer communities and healthier forests.”
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