Latest news with #WildfireandForestResilienceActionPlan
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Newsom signs $170 million wildfire resiliency bill
The Brief Gov. Newsom on Monday signed Assembly Bill 100, which puts over $170 million toward wildfire resiliency. The bill is another step in Newsom's efforts to reduce the threat of wildfires. OAKLAND, Calif. - With California's wildfire season fast approaching, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill to allocate over $170 million toward wildfire resiliency. Newsom signed Assembly Bill 100, sponsored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-46), which accelerates funding to conservancies for forest and vegetation management across the state. The bill also puts $10 million toward wildfire response and resiliency. "With this latest round of funding, we're continuing to increase the speed and size of forest and vegetation management essential to protecting communities," Newsom said in a press release. "We are leaving no stone unturned — including cutting red tape — in our mission to ensure our neighborhoods are protected from destructive wildfires." The bill implements the "early action" 2025 budget package to address items necessary for adoption this fiscal year. By the numbers The conservancies receiving funding include: - $30,904,000 to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy- $23,524,000 to the California Tahoe Conservancy- $31,349,000 to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy- $30,904,000 to the State Coastal Conservancy- $30,904,000 to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy- $23,524,000 to the San Diego River Conservancy Dig deeper Gov. Newsom also signed an executive order to guarantee that the projects funded by AB 100 benefit are streamlined and exempt from "bureaucratic red tape" that can delay efforts to mitigate wildfire risks. Newsom has for years worked to increase forest management and wildfire resilience, including several executive orders to improve community hardening and wildfire mitigation strategies statewide. Why you should care Of the 20 most destructive fires in California's history, 15 have occurred in the last decade, including two that swept through Los Angeles earlier this year, the Eaton and Palisades fires. California is investing $2.5 billion to implement Newsom's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, which was adopted in 2021. The plan calls for more fuel reduction and prescribed burns. All of the key actions outlined in the plan are underway or have already been implemented. That plan comes in addition to the $200 million invested annually through the 2028-2029 fiscal year for healthy forest and fire prevention programs.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts warn against dangerous wildfire myth that could put lives at risk: 'It's not that simple'
After a wildfire burns through an area, the smoke eventually clears. But that doesn't mean it's no longer hazardous. With the recent devastating wildfires that ravaged parts of Southern California, experts warn that ash and microscopic pollutants can linger in the air for days or even weeks, posing health risks long after the flames are out. An article by LAist references social media posts trying to pinpoint areas at risk based on their proximity to the fires. "But it's not that simple," LAist reported. "Smoke and ash can affect air quality hundreds of miles away, as we saw during the Canada wildfires in 2023." Long after the fire is out, ash can remain suspended in the air, especially when winds pick up and blow it into new areas. Even people far from the fire zone could breathe in polluted air. Experts estimate wildfire smoke can be up to 10 times more harmful to the lungs than regular pollution, per the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. And to make matters worse, these particles don't just contain burned trees — they also house toxic materials like plastic, lead, and asbestos from burned buildings. Wildfire smoke can cause health problems for people, from asthma attacks to heart and lung disease. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and people with preexisting health conditions, are particularly at risk. Aside from property damage and the threat to human life, wildfires burn vegetation, destroy animal habitats, and harm the environment. And even though pollution from dirty fuels is the primary culprit behind a warming climate, wildfires also release large amounts of harmful planet-warming gases. While extreme weather events like wildfires are nothing new, rising global temperatures are one reason they're increasing in severity and frequency. "We can say with strong confidence that climate change has made these events much more likely and much more severe," said Marshall Burke, an associate professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Weather apps and trackers, like the AirNow fire and smoke map, can help people understand their risk of exposure to ash-polluted air. People in at-risk areas can stay indoors or wear filtering N95 masks if they go outside. Some states also have clean air centers for anyone who needs clean, filtered air. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For its part, California has a Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan to help reduce the risk of wildfires and restore the health of the state's forests. Some homeowners are also using sustainable, fire-resistant materials to protect their properties. For example, this home incorporates features designed to reduce fire risk. The best way to fight wildfires is to prevent them in the first place. Knowing how wildfires start and spread can help homeowners and communities take steps to mitigate risk. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
