In response to the escalating threat of catastrophic wildfires in California, Governor Gavin Newsom's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures designed to beef up the state's defense against these natural disasters. According to a report from the Governor's Office, the Task Force has rolled out 25 key deliverables—in the race against time and rising temperatures—to fortify Californian communities against the flames.
Building upon Governor Newsom's emergency proclamation to hasten wildfire prevention projects, these deliverables, as detailed by the site, target everything from bolstering community safety to creating sustainable jobs connected to forest management. The Task Force, influenced by the Los Angeles firestorms' wreckage, is striving to put these deliverables into action this year. "These deliverables pull from the state’s already nation-leading toolbox of solutions and push California to move even faster," Governor Newsom told the Governor's Office.
The goals of the 2025 Key Deliverables include improving wildfire resistance in homes and communities, and streamlining regulatory processes, while also focusing on expanding broad-scale programs that aim to boost ecological resilience. Additionally, they emphasize the scaling up of beneficial fires and increasing efforts in post-fire restoration, as well as the creation of forest sector jobs that could stimulate a sustainable market for wood products. One of the initiatives, to develop a scientifically grounded approach for tracking progress, rounds off the strategic priorities.
The efforts outlined are set against the backdrop of over $2.5 billion allocated to wildfire resilience since 2020, and an additional $1.5 billion earmarked from the 2024 Climate Bond, marking a historic investment in the state's wildfire preparedness. Progress on the ground has been notable, with more than 2,200 landscape health and fire prevention projects completed or in progress, and nearly 1.9 million acres treated between 2021 and 2023, including close to 730,000 in 2023 alone. "The Task Force has made strong progress to protect Californians from catastrophic wildfire,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, who informed the Governor's Office.
