Wood welcomes wildfire funding

Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $536 million funding plan to help improve California’s resilience to wildfires.

That was welcome news to Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-santa Rosa).

“We know that fire season is looming and I am grateful for the work that has gone into this critical funding deal,” Wood said.

The deal includes:

• $278 million that upholds the annual funding commitment Wood requested three years ago in SB 901 — the bill the adressed the devastating wildfires of 2017.

• $25 million to fund home hardening efforts as laid out in .ood’s bill AB 38, which wss signed two yesrs sgo, and hss locked funding due to state budget constraints. That $25 million will allow the state to seek $75 million in match

ing federal funds from FEMA.

• $50 million in funding for the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program “as designed in my bill AB 9 which I just introduced earlier this year.

“These funds are critical to getting work started on the ground now before our fire season is at its highest risk,” Wood said. “With a very possible drought year ahead of us, we absolutely have to do everything possible to avoid another devastating wildfire season. Proven, shovel-ready projects are ready to go and will be able to start as soon as funding is available. This funding serves our immediate needs but I look forward to more funding coming in June when the rest of the 2021-22 budget is signed.”