Cal Fire Announces $155 Million In Grants To Reduce Wildfire Risk

Cal Fire is looking to award up to $155 million for projects that reduce the risk of wildfires to communities in and near forested areas.

"We continue to have the worst fire season on record,” said Angie Lottes, assistant deputy director for climate and energy with Cal Fire. “Not only do we need to find a way to return forests to a natural ecosystem, we need to return them to beyond what they were."

The two types of grants — forest health and fire prevention — will be used for things such as fire education, pest management, reforestation, and prescribed fire. Grants are also available to private land owners for projects that include a mix of treatments at the landscape level.

Lottes said about half of the forested areas in the state aren't on Forest Service land and that a lot of the acreage is private.

"They've had the least amount of work done and the biggest need to be returned to the natural state,” said Lottes. “In many cases have the biggest need for fuel reduction and fire reintroduction."

The funds are from the statewide program California Climate Investments, which uses cap-and-trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's also part of the forest management executive order Gov. Jerry Brown issued earlier this year and the State Forest Carbon Plan.

Workshops will be held across the state starting Oct. 2.