Governor Newsom Extends Key Provision to Continue Fast-tracking Wildfire Projects
Governor Newsom Extends Key Provision to Continue Fast-tracking Wildfire Projects
December 31, 2025 – Governor Newsom announced the extension of a key provision of the March 2025 Emergency Proclamation on wildfire that will enable California to continue moving faster than ever to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk through a streamlined permitting process for wildfire prevention projects. Previously, qualifying projects had to be “initiated” in the calendar year 2025. Now, eligible projects can be initiated through May 1, 2026. 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. To date, nearly 240 projects covering more than 40,000 acres have been approved statewide and half are already underway or have been completed.
CAL FIRE Awards Over $62 Million in Wildfire Prevention Grants
CAL FIRE Awards Over $62 Million in Wildfire Prevention Grants
December 12, 2025 – CAL FIRE announced it will award nearly $62.6 million in funding for 84 local wildfire prevention projects across the state, including 41 projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities. CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants enable local organizations like fire safe councils to implement activities that reduce wildfire risk to communities. Funded activities include hazardous fuel reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education. These projects reach all corners of the state, including:
- Siskiyou County: The Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District will implement wildfire prevention efforts on the McCloud Fuels Management and Forest Stewardship Project, which proposes 375 acres of treatment including 200 acres of mastication and thinning and 175 acres of ridgeline shaded fuel break.
- Riverside County: the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians will reduce hazardous fuels (saltcedar) on 223 acres of tribal lands. The project will reduce dust and wildfire fuel loads by removing saltcedar using root plowing and chipping.
- Los Angeles County: The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is one of many organizations receiving funding towards wildfire prevention efforts. Their project will work towards developing a Regional Wildfire Protection Plan that will help to protect over 31 cities and communities, 22 of which are identified as “Communities at Risk.”
These projects all meet the goals and objectives of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as well as the Strategic Fire Plan for California. Over the last six years, CAL FIRE has awarded more than $566 million in its Wildfire Prevention Grants Program to over 575 projects across the state. A full list of the 2025/2026 Wildfire Prevention Grant recipients is available here.
CAL FIRE and the Community Wildfire Planning Center Awarded for Training Program
CAL FIRE and the Community Wildfire Planning Center Awarded for Training Program
October 22 – The American Planning Association (APA) awarded CAL FIRE and the Community Wildfire Planning Center with the 2025 National Planning Award for Resiliency & Sustainability in recognition of their Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California training program. Launched in 2023, the training program offers free, full-day, in-person sessions designed for land use planners, fire marshals, fire chiefs, fire mitigation specialists, building officials, and other professionals from both government agencies and the private sector. To date, nearly 700 attendees participated in one of 24 trainings held across the State. Trainings have helped attendees:
• Increase understanding of the most up-to-date state requirements for planning in fire hazard areas.
• Expand knowledge of wildfire vulnerabilities in the built environment.
• Share information on best practices and resources.
• Interact with peers to exchange perspectives on fire mitigation and planning.
USDA California Climate Hub and Partners Release New Reforestation Planning Resources
USDA California Climate Hub and Partners Release New Reforestation Planning Resources
September 30, 2025 – The recently launched California Reforestation Toolshed website consolidates a variety of reforestation resources into one location, improving access to essential reforestation guidance and science. The Toolshed was collaboratively developed by the USDA California Climate Hub, CAL FIRE, American Forests, the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The Toolshed includes 12 new California Climate-Informed Reforestation Guidance booklets. These booklets provide regionally specific recommendations for site preparation, planting, and post-planting management actions that can help establish forests that are resilient to climate change and wildfires.
California Climate-Informed Reforestation Guidance Booklets:
Governor Newsom Unveils California’s Updated Climate Adaptation Strategy
Governor Newsom Unveils California’s Updated Climate Adaptation Strategy
September 4, 2025 – Governor Newsom unveiled California’s updated Climate Adaptation Strategy — the state’s overarching framework to better protect communities and nature from dangerous climate impacts. California last updated the Strategy in 2021. The updated strategy sets strategic direction through six priorities:
- Protecting communities most vulnerable to climate change
- Improving public health and safety to protect against increasing climate risk
- Building a climate-resilient economy
- Expanding nature-based climate solutions and strengthening the resilience of natural systems
- Making decisions based on best available climate science
- Partnering and collaborating to leverage resources
These priorities are supported by cross-cutting climate resilience actions, each with associated success metrics. The strategy aligns with and builds on the goals set forth by California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and includes the following actions specific to wildfire resilience:
- Prioritize actions that reduce wildfire risks to California Native American tribes and climate vulnerable communities.
- Support wildfire-prone communities by increasing the capacity of local and regional partnerships to build and maintain a pipeline of forest health and fire prevention projects.
- Invest Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds in long-term disaster recovery and resilience building that targets the unmet housing recovery needs of low and moderate-income households in a way that mitigates disaster risk and reduces future losses among vulnerable communities.
- Reduce health impacts of wildfire and prescribed fire smoke.
- Reduce the risk of energy infrastructure-related ignitions that lead to catastrophic wildfire.
- Bring to scale a thriving forest and wood products market in California that leverages public investments by energizing private capital for sustainable forest management, regional economic recovery, and climate resilience.
- Increase the pace and scale of wildfire resilience and forest health projects.
- Reduce risks of wildfire through increased use of fuel breaks and fuels reduction.
- Assist the federal government in scaling up forest treatments by supporting collaborative forest management and encouraging landscape level planning.
- Coordinate and guide prescribed fire and cultural fire activities and address the key barriers to its widespread use in California.
- Expedite permitting processes for wildfire and forest resilience projects using exemptions or the California Vegetation Treatment program.
- Invest in science-based management focused on climate resilience of California’s fire adapted landscapes.
- Improve wildfire smoke guidance for schools, children, and other vulnerable populations. Develop outreach materials for health care providers and the public on wildfire smoke health effects and ways to decrease exposure.
- Collaborate with federal, state, tribal, and private partners to increase pace and scale of restoration of fire-adapted lands and maximize the climate resilience benefits of these treatments.
- Leverage federal funding to support fire-hardening roads and communities.
California Extends Timeline for Some On-the-ground Fuel Reduction Work Eligible for Streamlining
California Extends Timeline for Some On-the-ground Fuel Reduction Work Eligible for Streamlining
Following Governor Newsom’s Emergency Proclamation on wildfire, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) have approved over 100 critical fuels reduction projects spanning tens of thousands of acres across the state, moving at record pace while also ensuring environmental protections are being upheld.
Recognizing that reducing wildfire risk to landscapes and communities may require multiple stages of treatments, California recently extended regulatory suspensions to allow qualifying long-term fuels reduction projects up to five years from commencement to complete on-the-ground work. Typically, projects must be completed within two years of initiating work on-the-ground. However, extensions may be allowed for up to five years from the commencement of on-the-ground work for fuels reduction projects that have been awarded funding from the following state grant programs:
- CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants
- CAL FIRE Forest Health Grants
- California Forest Improvement Program within the Coastal Zone (projects must have fuels reduction as a key objective)
- Climate Bond early action funding (Prop 4)
- Other programs funded through Wildfire Resilience Packages since 2020-2021
Projects that receive extensions must submit progress reports that are required under their grant agreements to the suspension review teams at CNRA and CalEPA. Additionally, state agencies within CNRA (e.g. CAL FIRE, State Parks, CDFW, State Lands Commission, State Conservancies) are eligible to apply for extensions of up to five years from the commencement of on-the-ground work for projects that they lead and directly implement.
For eligibility criteria, requirements for environmental protections, FAQs, support resources for project assistance, a map of approved projects, and the application link, visit the Task Force webpage. The deadline to submit suspension requests for projects is December 31, 2025.
CAL FIRE Awards Nearly $10 Million to Support Tribal Wildfire Resilience and Boost Forestry Workforce
CAL FIRE Awards Nearly $10 Million to Support Tribal Wildfire Resilience and Boost Forestry Workforce
August 1, 2025 – CAL FIRE awarded nearly $4.7 million through its Tribal Wildfire Resilience Program to support six tribes and tribal non-profits in implementing projects on tribal, federal, and private lands. These grants focus on cultural fire, workforce training, fuels reduction, reforestation, land stewardship, and other efforts that promote wildfire resilience and safety for tribal communities. The funding also supports the use and promotion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to help California Native American tribes manage their ancestral lands.
August 18, 2025 – CAL FIRE announced $5 million in grant funding through its Business and Workforce Development Grant program to eight projects that will create jobs, train future forestry workers, and help small businesses expand their role in protecting California’s forests and communities from wildfire. Together, these eight projects will train more than 300 people, create or retain dozens of jobs, and increase the capacity to treat thousands of acres per year.
New Outreach Efforts Bring Attention to Wildfire and Forestry Careers
New Outreach Efforts Bring Attention to Wildfire and Forestry Careers
June 11, 2025 – CAL FIRE Launches JoinCALFIRE.com with Comprehensive Information on the Department’s Career Paths:
Key features of JoinCALFIRE.com include: streamlined application paths for both entry-level and advanced positions; detailed job requirements, training information, and career progression insights; a calendar of statewide job fairs and hiring events; and direct access to applications and recruiter information.
The Foundation for California Community Colleges Hosts Climate Futures Webinar Series and Wins a Telly:
- The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) and Community College Research Center is hosting a webinar series on “Community Colleges and Climate Futures.” The series is exploring how students can be prepared to contribute meaningfully to sustainable local economies and what role colleges can play in strengthening partnerships with businesses to foster climate adaptation. Webinars held February 25, April 8, and June 17 were recorded an are available online and registration for the August 12 webinar is open. The series will culminate with the Community College Climate Summit, September 29-30 in Anaheim.
- The FoundationCCC’s “Resilient Careers in Forestry Campaign” commercial won a bronze award in the 2025 Telly Awards. In partnership with the FoundationCCC California Resilient Careers in Forestry is leading a multifaceted communications effort designed to motivate individuals to pursue careers in forestry, wildland firefighting, and forest operations, and connect them to the training and education pathways best suited to their individual needs and career goals.
Task Force Releases 2025 Key Deliverables
Task Force Releases 2025 Key Deliverables to Outline California’s Top Priorities Underway to Increase Wildfire Resilience
March 24, 2025 – The Task Force released its 2025 Key Deliverables, which include California’s top priorities and initiatives now underway to continue promoting wildfire and community resilience across the state.
The deliverables outline the highest priority actions underway this year to achieve the commitments in the 2021 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and to advance key new initiatives that will be highlighted in the forthcoming update of the Action Plan to be released later this year.
The deliverables focus on actions that will improve home and community wildfire resilience, expand landscape-scale resilience programs, streamline regulatory processes, expand timber production and more.
Task Force Director Patrick Wright provided an overview of the 2025 Key Deliverables during the Director’s Report at the March 27 Spring Region Meeting. Click under Resources to the see the video.
California Passes Proposition 4 — Providing $1.5 Billion for Wildfire Resilience
California Passes Proposition 4 — Providing $1.5 Billion for Wildfire Resilience
November 5, 2024 – Californians passed Proposition 4, the first-ever climate bond to go before California voters. The proposition provides $10 billion in bond funds for critical wildfire, flood protection, and other climate resilience projects around the state, including $1.5 billion for wildfire resilience. This funding will enable agencies to improve landscape health and resilience and protect communities from wildfire risks through programs such as the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program. The funding also includes $50 million for long-term capital infrastructure projects that utilize wildfire mitigation waste for non-combustible uses.
In addition to funding wildfire resilience, $1.2 billion will be used to protect natural lands and preserve biodiversity, with $870 million directed to the Wildlife Conservation Board to help the state to meet its goal to protect 30% of lands by 2030. The approval of Proposition 4 is a major advancement for California’s efforts to increase the pace and scale of wildfire and landscape resilience treatments, adapt to a changing climate, and reach goals set in the California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.