California Fast-tracks 500 Critical Wildfire Prevention Projects Across the State
California Fast-tracks 500 Critical Wildfire Prevention Projects Across the State
September 10, 2026 – California has now fast-tracked more than 500 priority wildfire prevention projects, including over 310,000 activity acres of treatments across nearly 130,000 footprint acres. This follows Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation on wildfire-prone forests and subsequent actions to accelerate wildfire resilience work. State agencies, including the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency, have coordinated to streamline permitting and cut red tape for high-priority wildfire-safety projects while maintaining essential environmental protections. Through this fast-track process, projects are now being approved in as little as 30 days, saving a year or more of review time for more complex projects.
This has helped move critical fuel reduction, forest restoration, and community protection projects from planning to implementation faster, saving a year or more of review and red tape for more complicated projects. Partners across the state have been able to complete work more efficiently while maintaining strong environmental protections. Notable projects include:
- Protecting Communities Impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles Firestorms: 600+ acre fuels reduction collaborative project protecting communities in the Los Angeles area near the Palisades footprint, led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
- Expanding Prescribed and Cultural Burning on the North Coast: 450-acre Prosper Ridge Community Wildfire Resilience Project that is incorporating cultural burning and prescribed fire for community protection in Humboldt County
- Restoring Large Landscapes and Protecting Rural Northern California Communities: Nearly 3,000-acre Scott Valley/Callahan Fuels Reduction Project to restore ecosystem health and protect vulnerable rural communities in Siskiyou County
- Assisting Senior and Disabled Residents Protect their Homes in the Sierra Nevada: 302-acre project to assist senior and disabled WUI residents in Tuolumne County with removing vegetation and creating defensible space
- Restoring Wildfire Impacted Private Lands on the Central Coast: 520-acre Calforests supported disaster recovery project of private lands in Santa Cruz County impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires
- Reducing Wildfire Risk through Prescribed Grazing in Southern California: 240-acre project in San Diego County to protect the Sycuan Reservation from wildfire by reducing fire hazard with the use of 300 grazing goats
- Protecting the Heritage Ranch Community in San Luis Obispo County: 485-acre project to construct an 8-mile strategic fuel break, improve roadside clearance and create defensible space to protect the 3,800-resident Heritage Ranch community, a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone with a history of large wildfires
- Reducing Wildfire Risk Near Arnold in Calaveras County: 2,171-acre strategic fuel break to protect the community of Arnold, using mechanical mastication, manual hand cutting, and piling and chipping to reduce fuel loads and prepare the landscape for prescribed fire
Indigenous Stewardship Network Holds First In-person Convening
Indigenous Stewardship Network Holds First In-person Convening
August 19, 2026 – The Indigenous Stewardship Network (ISN) held their first in-person convening at the CNRA building this with over 100 people in attendance. The convening focused on Indigenous stewardship and cultural fire across California. While ISN has held virtual convenings prior to 2026, this year the CNRA building in Sacramento was chosen to connect the Indigenous Stewardship network to spaces where environmental funding and policy decisions are discussed and made. Convening topics covered SB310 agreements, funding opportunities with the Department of Conservation Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program (DOC RFFC), the CNRA Tribal Stewardship Toolkit, intergenerational learning and workforce development for cultural fire. The convening received support from the DOC RFFC program, the Resource Legacy Fund, and the Karuk Tribe.
BLM Approves Projects to Improve Forest Health and Reduce Wildfire Risk in Shasta County
BLM Approves Projects to Improve Forest Health and Reduce Wildfire Risk in Shasta County
July 24, 2026 – the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Applegate Field Office approved two forest resilience projects in the Fall River Valley in Shasta County, aimed at improving forest health, reducing wildfire risk, and strengthening community preparedness. Work on both projects is expected to begin in fall 2026. The Day Fire Pre-Commercial Thinning Project builds on recovery efforts following the 2014 Day Fire, which burned more than 13,000 acres of primarily private timberland and a portion of BLM-managed public land. The Cassel–Fall River Road Woodland Health and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project expands upon fuels reduction work conducted from 2020 – 2026 and will continue removing hazardous vegetation on roughly 1,400 acres of BLM-managed public land near Fall River Mills, using hand crews, mechanical equipment, and prescribed fire.
CAL FIRE Opens Solicitations for Forest Legacy Grants
CAL FIRE Opens Solicitations for Forest Legacy Grants
Program Capacity and Project Development Grants: The Forest Legacy Program Capacity and Project Development Grant Solicitation is available for eligible applicants to prepare and develop potential working forest conservation easement or fee title acquisition projects. This solicitation aims to increase organizational capacity and support the development of high-quality forest conservation projects. This grant solicitation does not fund acquisitions; instead, it supports the preparation and development of potential projects for future acquisition. Applications are due September 30, 2026.
Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program is accepting applications for the USDA Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, which provides up to $600,000 for communities, Tribes and eligible nonprofits to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access, recreation, wildlife habitat, water supply and other community benefits. Applications are due October 13, 2026.
Community-Led Beneficial Fire Continues to Grow in California
Community-Led Beneficial Fire Continues to Grow in California
August 6, 2026 – The Watershed Research and Training Center recently added 2025 data to its Community-Based Beneficial Fire Data Project which compiles and analyzes data from beneficial fire burning activities across the state of California. The project is demonstrating how California is strengthening its partnerships and expanding workforce development capacity for cultural and prescribed fire. 2025 was an active year for the community-based beneficial fire movement. Across California, Tribal cultural fire practitioners, Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs), nonprofit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts, agencies, and private landowners are continuing to build the relationships, skills, and policies needed to return good fire to the landscape. In 2024 and 2025, nearly 9,500 people participated in training events focused on prescribed fire, cultural burning, ecological restoration, and land stewardship. During the same period, community partners completed more than 1,280 prescribed and cultural burns, treating over 9,100 acres while engaging nearly 16,000 participants.
California Board of Forestry Approves First-in-the-Nation Zone 0 Defensible Space Regulations
California Board of Forestry Approves First-in-the-Nation Zone 0 Defensible Space Regulations
August 19, 2026 – The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final draft of Zone 0 defensible space regulations, marking another critical step in the state’s ongoing effort to better protect homes and communities from wildfire. The new regulation adds to California’s growing list of wildfire resilience efforts and focuses on practical wildfire safety actions for the first five feet around homes and structures—an area where professional experience and research indicate that homes are most vulnerable to ignition from embers.
The new regulation was informed by extensive public input and reflects a practical approach that empowers homeowners and local governments to take action. The approved policy includes a phased-in implementation approach that prioritizes education and outreach over a 5-year period. While Zone 0 requirements will apply to new construction upon adoption of the regulation, existing homes and structures can implement actions in phases over time within different areas of Zone 0:
- PHASE 1 (Implemented within the first 3 years): Includes removing combustible items such as firewood, dead leaves and branches, mulch, and wood chips within 5 feet of the structure. Cleaning gutters, removing dead and dying plants, trimming trees according to regulations, and implementing or adjusting for allowable vegetation during this time period.
- PHASE 2 (Implemented within 5 years): Local jurisdictions will assign a timeline, within 5 years of the effective date of the regulations, for the creation of an under-eave safety zone, replacing combustible gates, and making any necessary adjustments to sheds and fencing.
The policy applies to homes only in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). The goal is to give homeowners time, resources, and guidance to make changes effectively and affordably.
Six Months After the LA Fires, California Continues Unprecedented Recovery Campaign
Six Months After the LA Fires, California Continues Unprecedented Recovery Campaign
July 7, 2025 – On the six month anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, Governor Newsom announced the substantial completion of the public debris removal program from more than 10,000 fire damaged parcels. The near-completion of the public debris removal program comes months ahead of schedule. The LA Fires cleanup is the second largest in state history after the Camp Fire and was jointly managed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and United States Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles. Of the 12,048 total properties destroyed in the twin fires, 9,873 opted to participate in the cost-free public cleanup program.
Following cleanup, the Governor signed Executive Order N-29-25 to accelerate rebuilding homes and schools impacted by the fires by suspending local permitting laws and building codes. To further spur rebuilding the Governor and the California Department of Housing and Community Development announced the release of $101 million to help rapidly rebuild critically needed, affordable multifamily rental housing in the fire-devastated LA region.
CAL FIRE Releases Vegetation Burn Severity Online Viewer
CAL FIRE Releases Vegetation Burn Severity Online Viewer
July 15, 2025 – CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) released the California Vegetation Burn Severity Online Viewer, a public geospatial tool that displays burn severity data for wildfires across all land ownerships that burned at least 1,000 acres in California from 2015 to 2023. In accordance with Senate Bill 1101, FRAP developed this viewer to enhance public understanding of post-fire conditions and ecological impacts. It offers insight into the severity of impacts to vegetation across both forested and non-forested landscapes. The viewer will support post-fire recovery planning, inform habitat management and conservation efforts, enhance safety through insights for fire suppression planning, and improve preparedness by helping prescribed fire practitioners plan treatments based on past burn severity and fuel changes. Users can view fire perimeters, severity maps, and proportional area statistics for each fire. The viewer will be updated annually to include new fires under 1,000 acres.
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
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.