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Following Governor’s Executive Order, California Takes Swift Action to Expand Beneficial Fire Statewide

Following Governor’s Executive Order, California Takes Swift Action to Expand Beneficial Fire Statewide

Just six months after Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to reduce red tape and expand tools to safely deploy beneficial fire, State agencies have moved quickly to provide immediate on-the-ground support to local governments and fire practitioners to maximize beneficial fire use.

California has expedited beneficial fire projects, expanded partnerships with Native American tribes, strengthened alignment with air quality entities, and built capacity for practitioners through updated policies, streamlined processes, and training initiatives. Since July 2025, CAL FIRE has treated nearly 20,000 acres with prescribed fire and State Parks has rapidly expanded its prescribed fire program—treating over 1,300 acres, seizing key burn windows to complete high-priority projects in iconic parks, and strengthening capacity through new leadership and training for hundreds of staff and partners. Learn more about California’s progress on expanding beneficial fire.

Actions Taken to Date in Response to the Order

Expediting Beneficial Fire Projects

Assisting local agencies: To make it easier for CAL FIRE to help others with beneficial fire projects, CAL FIRE issued a Temporary Directive clarifying various roles for Department resources when collaborating with entities such as prescribed burn associations, cultural burn practitioners and local agencies on burns. The Temporary Directive will be replaced by CAL FIRE Handbook Policy and Procedure to ensure the language of the Directive is enduring. (EO Action 1)

Streamlining agreements and forms: CAL FIRE has updated its agreement and right of entry forms for prescribed fire projects on private, state, and federal lands to streamline the process for working with cooperators on beneficial fire projects. (EO Action 1)

Suspending required site visits: To allow projects to be implemented more quickly, CAL FIRE issued a Temporary Directive stating that site visits or inspections are not required when burn permit applications are received from qualified beneficial and cultural fire practitioners. The Temporary Directive also encourages relationships with beneficial fire practitioners. (EO Action 2)

Expanding participation in the Liability Claims Fund: To enable additional qualified entities to participate in the Prescribed Fire Liability Claims Fund Pilot Program, CAL FIRE updated the Prescribed Fire Claims Fund FAQ document posted on its website to affirm that volunteer fire departments or districts and Resource Conservation Districts can enroll in the Claims Fund. (EO Action 3)

Updating CAL FIRE’s prescribed fire guidebook: CAL FIRE’s Prescribed Fire Committee is in the process of updating the CAL FIRE prescribed fire guidebook to be inclusive of non-CAL FIRE beneficial fire practitioners. This is intended to more effectively support prescribed fires that are primarily planned and / or conducted by non-CAL FIRE entities. In the meantime, the existing guidebook posted on the CAL FIRE website encourages non-CAL FIRE practitioners to use the guidebook as a reference in the development of their projects. (EO Action 4).

Developing template agreements: CAL FIRE has updated all template agreements for projects on private, state, and federal lands to facilitate efficient and effective coordination. (EO Action 5)

Fast-tracking projects: CNRA and CalEPA continue to explore options for establishing a durable process to fast-track beneficial fire projects beyond the end of Governor Newsom’s March 1, 2025, State of Emergency proclamation. (EO Action 6)

Expanding Partnerships With Native American Tribes

Improving collaboration with tribes: In March 2026, CNRA launched the state’s first-ever Tribal Stewardship Policy, establishing a statewide goal of expanding tribal stewardship over at least 7.5 million acres of lands and coastal waters in California. The Policy sets clear standards to institutionalize meaningful and durable tribal-state partnerships and advance tribal stewardship through tribal access, collaboration, and ancestral land return. (EO Action 7)

Strengthening Alignment With Air Quality Entities

Collaboration with air districts: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is actively participating in two key interagency forums that support the implementation of beneficial fire: the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Beneficial Fire Workgroup and the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) Prescribed Fire Committee. Through the Beneficial Fire Work Group, CARB is providing updates on the Smoke Management Program, presenting information on systems such as the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS) and engaging in ongoing discussions to streamline air regulatory processes. Through the CAPCOA Prescribed Fire Committee, CARB gives Air Districts updates on smoke monitoring, communications, and training. Recently, CARB staff have been using these meetings to engage the districts on opportunities for expanding burn window authorizations. (EO Action 8)

Identifying best practices for consistent permitting and smoke management: CARB has developed draft smoke management best practices to support program implementation. These drafts address key areas such as reporting requirements, burn day declarations, and communication guidelines and will be incorporated into the statewide training sessions. (EO Action 9)

Developing longer burn authorization windows: CARB has completed internal analysis on the efficacy of 48-hour burn windows and is currently developing procedures to implement the longer burn windows that will better facilitate larger beneficial fire projects and the staging of resources. Additionally, Smoke Management Guidelines (Title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 80100 et seq.) provide flexibility to support larger-scale beneficial fire projects. The Guidelines include provisions that allow burning on CARB-declared no-burn days and grant discretion to CARB forecasting staff in applying meteorological criteria when determining burn day status. (EO Action 10)

Improving access to technology: CARB is upgrading its Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS) and is in the testing phase, with operational release anticipated by the end of 2026. The upgraded system is being developed within the Esri software environment, enabling alignment with land management agency systems, including the CAL FIRE permitting system. The new platform will provide a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for practitioners, and CARB will offer training for land managers and air district users following deployment. (EO Action 11)

Building Capacity For Practitioners

Distribute funding in advance of beneficial fire work: Building on Climate Bond program guidance and statutory authority under Government Code Section 11019.3, departments under CNRA are incorporating advance payment options into their program structures to ensure grantees – including those conducting beneficial fire and fuels reduction activities – have the upfront resources needed to initiate wok without delay. (EO Action 12)

Simplify processes for grant funding: CNRA has initiated cross departmental coordination efforts to simplify and align grant funding processes that support beneficial fire projects, consistent with the Governor’s Executive Order. Building on the collaborative structures already in place through ongoing Climate Bond program development and wildfire/vegetation management coordination, CNRA departments are working together to identify redundancies, build consistency across application requirements, and improve clarity in guidelines and supporting materials. This work emphasizes reducing administrative burden for grantees while maintaining necessary accountability measures, with a focus on improving access for practitioners. (EO Action 13)

Launching the Beneficial Fire Training Network: CAL FIRE has requested Proposition 4 Climate Bond funding to support a virtual “Prescribed Fire Training Hub” external to CAL FIRE for broad sharing of training resources and opportunities between current and prospective beneficial fire practitioners. It is intended that this Hub serve as a building block for a Beneficial Fire Training Network with available resources for practitioners, air districts, local health jurisdictions and regulators across California. (EO Action 14)

by cataskforce

California Earthquake Authority Publishes Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Report

California Earthquake Authority Publishes Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Report

April 7, 2026 – The California Earthquake Authority, in their capacity as Administrator of the California Wildfire Fund, delivered their report, Enhancing California’s Resiliency to Natural Catastrophes as required under SB 254. The legislation required the Authority to evaluate policy options to reduce damages to life and property, accelerate post-disaster recovery, and equitably allocate the costs of natural catastrophes in California, including catastrophic wildfires. The report identifies three overarching Policy Pathways, each of which are supported by multiple strategies and actions.

    1. Commit to community wildfire risk reduction: Focuses on greater state coordination, guidance, and resources for local governments; increased capacity at the community level, developing shared data and information to support local mitigation planning, and setting some new requirements that further support existing priorities related to electric utility safety, accountability, and reporting.
    2. Equitably allocate catastrophe burdens: Addresses existing cost-sharing structures that are not fit-for-purpose to manage the extreme wildfires, including issues such as investor-owned utilities being burdened with inverse condemnation, disproportionate contributions to wildfire mitigation from residential ratepayers, access to property insurance, and delivery of post-disaster compensation payments.
    3. State roles for addressing catastrophe resiliency: Focuses on financing strategies to respond to catastrophic events as well as new public and private financing strategies to facilitate wildfire mitigation, such as home and community hardening, defensible space, and vegetation management.

RESOURCES

SB254 – Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study
Public Financing of Transmission Infrastructure

by cataskforce

Sierra Nevada Resource Fair Vendors

Over 30 vendors participated in the Resource Fair!

CLICK THE NAMES BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE

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California Fast Tracks 300 Wildfire Projects in 300 Days

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 20, 2026 

California Fast Tracks 300 Wildfire Projects in 300 Days

Progress Highlighted at Wildfire Task Force Regional Meeting

What you need to know: During the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force’s Sierra Nevada Regional meeting, California announced it has fast-tracked over 300 critical fuels reduction projects across the state in just over 300 days— enabling a broad cross-section of communities, local fire safe councils, tribes, and organizations to move faster than ever before. Additionally, local partners showcased projects that are strengthening wildfire resilience in the Central Sierra and the Task Force previewed its 2026 Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan.

Jamestown, California – On March 19, Mountain Counties Water Resources Association and Sierra Nevada Conservancy hosted the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force’s Sierra Nevada Regional Meeting at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in Tuolumne County. During the meeting, the Task Force shared an update on California’s progress to streamline permitting for wildfire projects, which has enabled a wide range of agencies, tribes, and organizations to move faster than ever before to deliver real results. Three panels of local leaders provided examples of how partners in the Central Sierra are working across land ownerships, developing a robust workforce, and utilizing innovative funding strategies to bring wildfire projects to scale. Lastly, the Task Force provided updates on the development of its 2026 Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan. 

“Across California, Task Force partners are proving that when we remove barriers and work together, wildfire resilience can happen faster and at the scale our communities and landscapes need,” said Task Force Director Patrick Wright. “From the Sierra Nevada and beyond, agencies, tribes, local leaders, and innovators are showing how collaboration, workforce development, and new funding approaches can turn momentum into real progress on-the-ground to protect communities and restore landscapes.”

CALIFORNIA FAST-TRACKS 300 PROJECTS ACROSS LAND OWNERSHIPS IN 300 DAYS

Following Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation on wildfire, State agencies including the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), have coordinated to cut red tape and fast-track critical wildfire safety projects across the state, all while maintaining vital environmental safeguards. Through this streamlined process, projects are now being approved in as little as 30 days, saving a year or more of review and red tape for more complicated projects. 

Thanks to these efforts, over 300 projects across nearly 57,000 acres have been approved in all reaches of the state. This streamlining process has been a game changer for a wide range of state and federal agencies, tribes, resource conservation districts, firesafe councils, private landowners and more, to get critical work done faster. Fast-tracked projects are protecting vulnerable communities, improving defensible space, creating evacuation routes, and restoring ecosystems. We are already seeing a major impact on the ground with notable projects including:

  • a collaborative 600+ acre fuels reduction project protecting communities in the Los Angeles area near the Palisades footprint led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority;
  • the 450 acre Prosper Ridge Community Wildfire Resilience Project that is incorporating cultural burning and prescribed fire for community protection in Humboldt County;
  • the nearly 3, 000-acre Scott Valley/Callahan Fuels Reduction Project to restore ecosystem health and protect vulnerable rural communities in Siskiyou County; and
  • a project offering defensible space assistance for seniors and at-needs residents in Tuolumne County.

Thanks to the Governor’s extension of the emergency proclamation, project streamlining applications are being accepted through May 1, 2026. Visit the Task Force’s Project Streamlining webpage to learn more, view all approved projects and submit your application. 

SHOWCASING LOCAL EFFORTS IN THE CENTRAL SIERRA

Unprecedented Collaboration Across Ownerships: The Sierra Nevada Regional Meeting highlighted how partners are coordinating work across federal, state, tribal, local, and private lands to achieve meaningful landscape-scale impact. A prime example showcased at the meeting is the Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) project, a landmark collaboration that is restoring forest health and reducing wildfire risk across tens of thousands of acres by coordinating treatments across public and private lands—demonstrating how large-scale, science-based forest management can strengthen both ecological resilience and local economies. Another example of how the Central Sierra is overcoming challenges experienced in other parts of the state is the opening of Tuolumne BioEnergy, a new biomass facility in Sonora that will help convert forest waste from fuels reduction projects into renewable energy while supporting local forest management and reducing the amount of material left to burn in wildfires.

Building a Workforce to Implement Projects at Scale: Local leaders emphasized that scaling wildfire resilience work requires a skilled workforce. The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk’s Tuolumne Rancheria Fire Department shared how they are building tribal leadership in fuels reduction, cultural burning, and community protection. The wildfire technology company BurnBot shared how new technologies are helping accelerate work on-the-ground and how its equipment can help land managers conduct prescribed fire more efficiently and safely. Local businesses are also playing an important role in the Central Sierra. Companies such as Heartwood Biomass are creating jobs while supporting forest health by processing and utilizing material removed during fuels reduction projects. Together, these efforts are helping grow a stewardship workforce capable of implementing wildfire resilience work at the scale California needs.

Innovative Strategies to Fund Wildfire Resilience: Meeting panelists discussed how emerging approaches to financing wildfire mitigation are aligning economic incentives with risk reduction through innovative insurance and financing models that reward communities and property owners that invest in wildfire resilience. One example is RockRose Risk, which is working with communities to provide insurance discounts for homeowners who complete wildfire mitigation work. A pilot effort in Incline Village, Nevada demonstrates how investments in defensible space and home hardening can translate directly into lower insurance costs.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2026 ACTION PLAN

The Task Force provided an overview on the development of the 2026 California Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan, previewing how the Plan will provide a statewide framework to align investments and guide regional and local planning and implementation, with a focus on the measures that reduce risk at scale and improve long-term resilience. The Plan will include two complementary strategies: one focusing on reducing wildfire impacts in and around communities and one focusing on improving landscape health to lower the likelihood and consequences of high-severity wildfire. A statewide framework for mobilizing regional action will support both strategies by aligning planning, permitting, implementation, reporting, and funding—ensuring priorities translate into coordinated work that reduces fire intensity near communities, strengthens preparedness, and enables more efficient projects and expanded use of beneficial fire.

by cataskforce

Sierra Nevada Regional Meeting 2026

Registration for In-Person Attendance is Closed.
Register for Field Tours by March 13.

Sierra Nevada Regional Meeting – Jamestown, CA

Mountain Counties Water Resources Association and Sierra Nevada Conservancy are hosting the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Regional Meeting March 19 at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in Tuolumne County. A remote attendance option will be available via Zoom.

The meeting on March 19 will highlight issues of regional importance in the Central Sierra. We will kick off the day with refreshments and a resource fair. On March 20, Task Force partners will host field tours offering immersive opportunities to better understand the critical landscape health and wildfire resilience work being done in the region.

New Wildfire Task Force Merch Available

Purchase HERE, for pick up at the March 19 regional meeting.
(no mail delivery option.)

SHOP NOW

EVENT SCHEDULE

MARCH 19 MEETING SCHEDULE

Resource Fair
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Opening Remarks
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Director’s Report
10:30 a.m – 11:00 a.m.

Morning Session: Achieving Resilience
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 PM

Lunch
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Afternoon Session 1: Sustaining Resilience
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Afternoon Session 2: Financing Resilience
3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks
4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Reception
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

hotel information

Chicken Ranch Casino Resort

9100 People of the Mountain Rd.
Jamestown, CA 95327
209-984-9066

RESERVE YOUR ROOM

State & Federal Employees
(Employee ID required on check-in)
All other guests

RESOURCES

IN-PERSON REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
REGISTER FOR REMOTE ATTENDANCE VIA ZOOM
AGENDA

field tours

Register for a Tour

ALL FIELD TOURS ARE FRIDAY MARCH 20

TOUR 1 – Tuolumne Bioenergy and Heartwood Biomass

Tuolumne Bioenergy and Heartwood Biomass

Expanding Wood Products and Biomass Utilization in Tuolumne County 

Destination: Join this tour of two of Tuolumne County’s newest wood-products facilities, Tuolumne Bioenergy and Heartwood Biomass. Both facilities boast state-of the-art technologies in the processing of forest biomass into multiple marketable products and were financed, in part, through grants from CAL FIRE and through the National Disaster Resilience Competition Grant.

Starting Point: Chicken Ranch Casino

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Accessibility: Tour will consist of walking around industrial facilities, potentially on uneven ground at times.

Additional Notes: Carpools encouraged. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. Restrooms will be available.

TOUR 2 – Arnold Avery Healthy Forest Restoration Project

Arnold Avery Healthy Forest Restoration Project

Prioritizing Community Wildfire Safety and Recreation Management

Destination: Bring your mountain bike or gravel bike for a fun ride on the Arnold Rim Trails to learn about the intersection between community wildfire safety and recreation management.  Learn how active fuels reduction and prescribed burning projects in the wildland–urban interface adjacent to the community of Arnold have allowed for priotritization of outdoor recreation, forest health and wildfire safety.

Hear from the Arnold Rim Trail Association and the U.S. Forest Service about how they are advancing the shared goals of healthy forests, safe communities and fun recreational trails. This is a no-drop ride which means all are welcome as long as you have intermediate biking skills. We will have a sweeper for the group and will stop often to allow the group to catch up and help with any issues along the way. There are a couple small stream crossings to navigate. There are more trails in the area if you want to ride more. Our planned route is approximately 10 miles with 1,000’ of climbing. There will be a couple small stream crossings where your feet may get wet. We will cancel if snow or heavy rain affects the trails.

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Starting Point: See map pin

Accessibility: Mountain biking on gravel and native surface trails. Trails may be steep in some areas.

Additional Notes: Bring water/snacks/lunch. No restroom facilities along trail path. Leave Chicken Ranch Casino no later than 8am. 

TOUR 3 – Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) Project

Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) Project

A Collaborative Approach to Wildfire Protection and Forest Resiliency

Destination: View and discuss an all hands, all lands approach to community protection and forest resilience in the context of the SERAL Project and adjacent fuel treatment efforts. Stops will include examples of fuelbreaks and other fuel treatments to protect critical infrastructure, forest thinning and planned Rx burning treatments.

Starting Point: Twain Harte Market parking lot 

Start/End: 09:30 AM -1:30 PM

Accessibility: Driving on maintained paved, gravel and dirt roads. Minimal walking just off of road side.

Additional Notes: Carpools encouraged; bring water/snacks/lunch; no restroom facilities after leaving meeting location.

TOUR 4 - Calaveras Big Trees State Park Beneficial Fire and Fuels Reduction

Calaveras Big Trees State Park Beneficial Fire and Fuels Reduction

Collaborating to Reduce Wildfire Risk in a Giant Sequoia Forest

Destination: Hear from Calaveras Big Trees State Park Fire Management staff alongside local CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit staff to learn about a brief park history, recent Wildfire and Forest Resilience Program funded fire and fuels work, and a Q&A session with local Park and CAL FIRE staff. This will be followed by a guided hike through giant sequoias to view recent prescribed burns along the 1.5 mile long ADA accessible North Grove Trail. This schedule may be slightly altered to accommodate inclement weather.

Starting Point: Jack Knight Hall, Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Start/End: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Accessibility: 1.5 mile hike on ADA trail

Additional Notes: Carpools encouraged. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms will be available.

VIEW MAP > 

TOUR 5 - Rim Fire Reforestation and Restoration

Rim Fire Reforestation and Restoration

Restoring Iconic Landscapes After Large-scale Wildfire

Destination: Join the Stanislaus National Forest and partners on a tour of the 2013 Rim Fire. Attendees will view the various restoration and reforestation strategies decided on by the Stanislaus National Forest and the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions Forest Collaborative.

Starting Point: Groveland Ranger Station

Start/End:10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Accessibility: Attendees must be prepared to walk short distances across uneven or steep terrain. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for cold weather.

Additional Notes: Carpools encouraged. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. Restrooms will be available at Ranger Station. 

TOUR 6 - Yosemite National Park Fuel Treatments

Yosemite National Park Fuel Treatments

Working Across Jurisdictions for Landscape-scale Fuel Reduction and Forest Management

Destination: Tour Yosemite Valley and giant sequoia forests to discuss landscape-scale fuel reduction and forest management implemented through mechanical and manual fuel treatments, prescribed fire, and Tribally-led fire and fuels work. Stops will examine how these approaches interact with wildfire and support the park’s goal of restoring good fire to the landscape to increase resilience. The tour will highlight how Tribal and Resource Conservation District partnerships are necessary to carrying out this work at scale across jurisdictions.

Starting Point: Chicken Ranch Casino

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Accessiblity: Attendees must be prepared to walk short distances across uneven or steep terrain. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for cold weather.

Additional Notes: This is  a one-way tour and will end on Highway 41 by Wawona. Only attendees traveling southward to return home should plan on joining this tour. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. Restrooms will be available throughout tour. 

TOUR 7 - Mokelumne Amador Calaveras Forest Health & Resilience Project

Mokelumne Amador Calaveras Forest Health & Resilience Project

Planing for Large Landscape Fuels Reduction

Destination: Join the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA) and the U.S. Forest Service for a tour of the Mokelumne Amador Calaveras Forest Health & Resilience Project (MAC Project) along the Highway 88 corridor in Eldorado National Forest. This tour will showcase ongoing and future fuels reduction and forest health treatments as part of this large-landscape green forest initiative. Participants will learn about treatment effectiveness, Tribal and other partner engagement, and lessons learned. The tour will begin at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. It will then proceed north to Jackson, CA, for a brief overview presentation on the project at the Amador County facility, and then participants will be led to several locations along Highway 88 on the Amador Ranger District to see recently treated areas and hear about future forest health treatments.

Starting Point: Chicken Ranch Casino

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Accessibility: Attendees must be prepared to walk short distances across uneven or steep terrain. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for cold weather.

Additional Notes: Carpools highly encouraged. Participants will be able to leave vehicles in Jackson. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch and wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear. Restrooms will be available early in tour. 

TOUR 8 - Southwest Interface Team Wildfire Prevention **CANCELED**

THIS TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELED

Southwest Interface Team Wildfire Prevention

Defending Watersheds and Communities from Wildfire in Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties

Destination: Tour of Southwest Interface Team (SWIFT) area to learn how strategic fuelbreaks and fire prevention projects are helping to defend the watersheds, communities, and residents from wildfire in a 132,000 acre area in Southern Tuolumne and Northern Mariposa Counties. The collaboration, formed in 1999, is composed of local, county, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-profits and associations, working cooperatively to reduce the threat of wildfire. The tour will include projects focused on fuels reduction in an effort to achieve fire resilient landscapes.

Starting Point: Moccasin Schoolhouse, 1 Lakeshore Drive Moccasin, CA. (37.812040716786385, -120.30163409956883).  From Moccasin Switchback Road take right at Hetch Hetchy Learning Center.

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 2:00PM

Accessibility: Attendees must be prepared to walk short distances across uneven or steep terrain. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for cold weather.

Additional Notes: Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. Transportation provided for up to 20 attendees. 

TOUR 9 - From Partnership to Scale: Financing Forest Resilience

From Partnership to Scale: Financing Forest Resilience

Helping California Forest Landowners Thrive

Destination: Join the American Forest Foundation, utility partners, and local experts on this multi-stop field tour for discussions on fuels reduction projects highlighting CalFire Block grants, collaboration with electric utilities, and setting the stage for an innovative funding model to fund work on a larger scale.

Starting Point: Chicken Ranch Casino

Start/End:  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Accessibility: Attendees must be prepared to walk short distances across uneven or steep terrain. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for cold weather.

Additional Notes: Carpools encouraged. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. 

TOUR 10 - Ponderosa Hills/Mira Monte Pilot Project

Ponderosa Hills/Mira Monte Pilot Project

Implementing the California Wildfire Mitigation Program in Tuolumne County

Destination: Join California Wildfire Mitigation Project (CWMP) representatives and staff from Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services touring the Ponderosa Hills/Mira Monte Pilot project created as part of the State of California’s effort to strengthen community-wide resilience against wildfires. The tour will look at the project area, relationship to local fuels reduction projects and discuss important measures that focus on cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting to create fire-resistant homes as well as defensible space and vegetation management activities.

Starting Point: Chicken Ranch Casino

Start/End: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Accessibility: Minor amounts of walking.

Additional Notes: Transportation will be provided from Chicken Ranch Casino. Bring your own water/snacks/lunch. Wear clothing appropriate for cold weather. 

Questions? Please contact foresttaskforce@fire.ca.gov

Thank You to our Hosts

Thank You to our Sponsors

by cataskforce

Inland Empire Resource Fair Vendors

Over 30 vendors participated in the Resource Fair!

CLICK THE NAMES BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE

by cataskforce

Interagency Partners Sign Charter to Reduce Wildfire Ignitions in Southern California

Interagency Partners Sign Charter to Reduce Wildfire Ignitions in Southern California

September 3, 2025 – Federal, state, and nonprofit partners, including the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, the California Department of Conservation, Caltrans, and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force signed the Southern California Ignition Reduction Program (SCIRP) charter at the Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center in Riverside. SCIRP is a public-private partnership created to reduce human-caused wildfire ignitions, particularly along roadways where nearly two-thirds of Southern California wildfires begin. The charter will reduce ignitions, lower costs, and limit wildfire impacts across jurisdictional boundaries.

With nearly 95 percent of wildfires in the region sparked by human activity, SCIRP was established in 2023 to directly confront wildfire risk. SCIRP’s mission is to systematically plan, fund, and carry out projects that reduce human caused ignitions while building public awareness and support. Its vision is a future where Southern California fires are limited to natural or beneficial ignitions, and roadways are lined with ignition-resistant materials and native plants.

The program is led by an Executive Committee that includes the U.S. Forest Service, Caltrans, CAL FIRE, and the California Department of Conservation, with advisory support from the National Forest Foundation, Blue Forest, and Conservation Investment Management.

RESOURCES

CAL FIRE News Release
SCIRP One-Pager
SCIRP Charter Revision

by cataskforce

Inland Empire Agenda

by cataskforce

California Allocates $9.5 Million for Wildfire County Coordinator Program

California Invests $9.5 Million for Wildfire County Coordinator Program

July 31, 2025 – With the support of Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature, the 2025-26 budget will provide $9.5 million for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program. Delivered in partnership between the California Fire Safe Council and CAL FIRE, the program establishes critical local capacity in 47 California counties with dedicated coordinators to secure funding, implement mitigation projects, engage vulnerable populations, and build resilience in high-risk communities. Coordinators serve as the crucial link between state strategy and local execution—ensuring California communities are better prepared, better connected, and more resilient to wildfire. The program will continue:

  • Operationalizing California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan at the county level;
  • Accelerating home hardening, defensible space implementation, and public education;
  • Standardizing data collection to track local and statewide wildfire resilience progress; and
  • Improving public safety, community insurability, and wildfire preparedness in California’s highest-risk regions.

Impact of the Wildfire County Coordinator Program

Investments in community capacity through the program have already produced substantial mitigation and resiliency benefits:

  • Secured over $85M in funding for local wildfire mitigation projects;
  • Coordinated with over 10,000 organizations to increase collaboration, break down silos, and leverage resources for community mitigation;
  • Hosted over 3,800 events for community engagement and education;
  • Educated and empowered over 800,000 residents to take action for wildfire resilience; and
  • Established more than 100 new FireWise Communities and Fire Safe Councils.

Testimonials from the Wildfire County Coordinators

“The Program has allowed Del Norte County Fire Safe Council to protect many underserved residents and coordinate with other wildfire mitigation groups to maximize impact. Our County Coordinator has brought nearly $4 million in federal funding to Del Norte County, created defensible space around 372 homes, and completed 1,500 home assessments.”
– Aaron Babcock, Del Norte County

 

“A small investment in capacity can lead to sustainable, long-term improvements for any organization. Because of the County Coordinator Grant, Plumas Fire Safe Council had the capacity to obtain a $6.8 million dollar grant dedicated to hazardous fuels reduction and assessment.”
– Liam Gallaher, Plumas County

 

“The County Coordinator Grant has supported collaboration in our county by allowing us to create a collaborative meeting of 14 fire prevention agencies in the county to better inform the public and improve our ability to leverage funds and labor.”
– Jon Cottington, Madera County

 

“We’ve been able to significantly expand our youth education impact by implementing three new school programs and getting back into the classroom with students for the first time since the 2018 Camp Fire.”
– Lauren de Terra, Butte County

 

“The program has given us the time and opportunity to strengthen our outreach countywide while implementing critical fuel reduction programs. We’ve also been able translate educational materials into Spanish, expanding our outreach to underserved populations.”
– Marika Ramsen, Sonoma County

 

“We’ve reduced redundancy, supported capacity and collaboration for other Fire Safe Councils, and boosted community engagement through Firewise USA. We also learn from other County Coordinators & implement those lessons learned.”
– Stephen Watson, Ventura County  

RESOURCES

Wildfire County Coordinators Program
Impact of County Coordinator Program Video
Find Your County Coordinator
Wildfire County Coordinators Grant Program

by cataskforce

USFS Invests Nearly $8 Million in Wood Innovation Grants in California

USFS Invests Nearly $8 Million in Wood Innovation Grants in California

July 17, 2025 – The U.S. Forest Service announced awarding $80 million in Wood Innovations and Wood Product Infrastructure Grants to spur wood products manufacturing, expand active forest management, and accelerate energy innovation. Of these investments, nearly $8 million will go to 16 projects in California. A list of California awardees is below:

Wood Product Infrastructure Assistance Grant Program:

  • Alpenglow Timber, LLC – $906,492: Establishes sawmill operations to support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests and tribal forestlands in California and Nevada. 
  • California Hotwood, Inc. – $232,000: Upgrades firewood processing capacity to support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Fall River Resource Conservation District – $252,642: Upgrades and modernization of biomass power facility operations to support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Franklin Logging, Inc. – $907,568: Upgrades to lumber drying operations at sawmill to support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Green Diamond Resource Company – $337,500: Establishes a stationary chipping facility to utilize small diameter and low value species in support of wildfire risk reduction and active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Lignum Support, LLC – $1,000,000: Upgrades and expansion of forest residues chipping operations for biomass energy to expand the utilization of forest residues and reduce wildfire risk and support active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Pacific Ultrapower Chinese Station – $960,000: Improves operational efficiencies at biomass power plant to support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests in California. 
  • Tuolumne Biomass, LLC – $999,131: Upgrades small log processing operation to expand markets for small diameter and lower value species and support reduced wildfire risk and active forest management on National Forests in California.

Wood Innovations Grant Program:

  • American Wood Fibers, Inc. – $300,000: Installs wood pellet mill to increase low-value wood utilization while supporting active forest management in California. 
  • DTE Materials Inc. – $300,000: Advances the production of wood concrete aggregates to improve utilization of low-value biomass and support active forest management. 
  • Enfilade Partners – $300,000: Designs and engineers a mass timber affordable housing project to accelerate the adoption of domestic mass timber thereby increasing active forest management and markets for small-diameter timber. 
  • Falk Forestry, Inc – $299,664: Establishes sawmill and firewood production to increase timber utilization and active forest management in Northern California. 
  • Fall River Resource Conservation District – $150,000: Establishes biochar production capabilities to support active forest management and wildfire risk reduction across national forests in California. 
  • Happy Camp Community Action, Inc. – $300,000: Advances the development of a new wood composite product to improve utilization of low-value biomass and support active forest management. 
  • Loamist, Co. – $300,000: Identifies locations for new low-value biomass markets to support active forest management and wildfire risk reduction in California.
  • Sierra Institute for Community and Environment – $300,000: Installs mass timber manufacturing equipment thereby increasing active forest management across western forests.   

RESOURCES

USFS Wood Innovations
USDA Press Release

by cataskforce

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