Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Fast-Track Critical Wildfire Prevention Projects

March 1, 2025 – Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to expedite projects that will protect California communities from catastrophic wildfire. The proclamation includes:

• Suspending environmental regulations, including CEQA and the Coastal Act, as needed to expedite fuels reduction projects. Projects include vegetation and tree removal, adding fuel breaks, prescribed fire, and more.
• Allowing non-state entities to conduct approved fuels reduction work with expedited and streamlined approval.
• Directing state agencies to submit recommendations for increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire.
• Increasing the California Vegetation Treatment Program’s (CalVTP) efficiency and utilization in order to continue promoting rapid environmental review for large wildfire risk reduction treatments.

On April 11 from 2-3pm, CNRA and CalEPA will host a webinar on how state agencies will execute the emergency proclamation.