Latest news with #NationalWildfireIntelligenceCenter
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Padilla visits Palisades Fire zone, pushes for wildfire prevention legislation
The Brief California Sen. Alex Padilla toured parts of the Palisades Fire zone on Thursday. He was joined by California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Cal Fire Assistant Region Chief Joshua Nettles. While discussing recovery efforts, Padilla pushed for bipartisan legislation aimed at wildfire prevention. PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - California State Senator Alex Padilla toured the Palisades Fire zone to assess recovery progress and discuss efforts to collaborate with the federal government on reducing fire risks and aiding victims. Padilla emphasized bipartisan legislation aimed at wildfire prevention and recovery. What we know During his visit, Padilla highlighted the scale of the fires that burned in January, which were approximately four times the size of Manhattan. Padilla also surveyed ongoing construction efforts and discussed bipartisan legislation to address wildfire risks, including the creation of a National Wildfire Intelligence Center. SUGGESTED: Newsom signs executive order to fast track rebuilding efforts after LA wildfires The "Fix Our Forest Act" aims to foster collaboration between federal and state governments on wildfire prevention, as the federal government owns and manages nearly half of California's lands, particularly forests bordering communities. Wade Crawfoot, California's Natural Resources Secretary, noted the gap in federal involvement in community defense and wildfire resilience. What they're saying Senator Padilla stated, "The bill calls for the creation of a National Wildfire Intelligence Center. Imagine, centralizing the experience, expertise, and technologies to help better inform not just help respond to fires when they happen but how we could work to mitigate or prevent them in the first place." SUGGESTED: 97-year-old woman loses home of 60 years in Palisades Fire He also expressed hope for bipartisan solutions, emphasizing the importance of not wasting the opportunity. "If in the middle of this political climate we find ourselves in, we can find a bipartisan solution, this is a huge opportunity we can't afford to waste," he said. What's next Gov. Gavin Newsom's request for $40 billion in federal aid for fire zone recovery is still pending. Padilla remains hopeful, stating, "We have never conditioned aid based on politics in the history of our country and we shouldn't start now." SUGGESTED: Newsom proclaims state of emergency to 'fast-track' forest management ahead of wildfire season The focus remains on securing federal support without political conditions.
Axios
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
New bill aims to bolster fight against wildfires in California
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the West is introducing a bill to combat "catastrophic" wildfires and overhaul forest management. Why it matters: Climate change and drought are causing wildfires to become more intense, widespread and harder to put out. The legislation comes after the Los Angeles County blazes in January were called one of the costliest wildfire events in U.S. history, with estimated damages reaching up to $131 billion. State of play: Some highlights of the Fix Our Forests Act — sponsored by Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) —are : Reducing wildfire risks in certain areas with more cross-boundary collaboration. Creating an interagency program to help communities build wildfire-resistant measures. Increasing research to test and utilize wildfire prevention technologies. By the numbers: So far this year, Cal Fire has responded to 653 incidents that have burned nearly 60,000 acres, killed 30 people and destroyed more than 16,250 structures. 10 of those were in San Diego County, including January's Border 2 Fire that burned for nearly a week and charred over 6,600 acres near Otay Mesa. 95% of California wildfires are caused by people, per Cal Fire. What they're saying: As the state faces more frequent and catastrophic wildfires, this bill "prioritizes building fire-resilient communities, accelerating the removal of hazardous fuels, and strengthening coordination across federal, state, and tribal agencies, including through the creation of the first-ever National Wildfire Intelligence Center," Sen. Padilla said in a statement.
