Wine Country Times

A north coast state senator recently praised a more than $500 million wildfire package signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week after earlier hinting at more money and research results to come.

"All hands on deck effort to boldly expand wildfire prevention and response in every corner of California," Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said in an April 14 Twitter post. "Great teamwork! More work to come."

McGuire's Twitter post came a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced during a news conference the signing of a $536 million early budget action aimed at wildfire suppression, forest health improvements and build resilience in California's fire-prone communities.

With the funds in place, the state will need buy-in from everyone to make the wildlife package a success, Newsom said during the news conference.

"Loads of this money is going to go to local businesses, local fire councils, so they can do the work immediately that needs to get done," Newsom said.

The content of Newsom's announcement could not have been much of a surprise to McGuire's constituents. In an April 8 news release anticipating Newsom's announcement, McGuire referred to the package as a "historic investment" in wildfire prevention, response and resiliency.

"This is the largest early budget action in California history and is a critical step to ensuring the safety of our communities as we enter what could be another devastating wildfire season," McGuire said in the news release, adding that Californians should expect an additional round of funding in June or early July.

The news release also referred to the work over the past couple of years of the state Senate's Wildfire Working Group, which McGuire co-chairs, an effort that is "leading the statewide efforts to bolster California's wildfire response and resiliency to adapt to the growing threat of fires across our state."

Earlier this year, the group released a blueprint that is "focused on data driven approaches that will help keep communities safe from wildfires and it laid out a road map for investment regarding fire response and prevention," the news release said.

That group will release a priority wildfire legislative package "in the coming few weeks."

In an April 10 Twitter post, McGuire broke down the wildfire package, saying that $80 million will bring 1,400 additional seasonal CalFire firefighters, adding to the 5,400 full time CalFire firefighters already on duty, and that $380 million will be used for wildfire prevention and home hardening.

In an April 12 Twitter post, McGuire referred to 2021 as "the third driest year on record here in California" and recommended tips from CalFire.

"Check out some easy tips to create defensible space around your home," McGuire said in that Twitter post.