Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Newsom Says CalFire ‘Up To The Task’ For Fire Season, As State Reports Record Coronavirus Deaths

  •  Chris Nichols 
Thursday, July 9, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses his revised 2020-2021 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, May 14, 2020.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

California is hiring 858 new seasonal firefighters and six new Conservation Corp teams to backfill the loss of dozens of inmate fire crews which were placed on lockdown due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in state prisons, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at a press conference on Thursday.  

Newsom shared that news on the same day California announced 149 new deaths due to the coronavirus, the most in a single day. 

Standing in front of one of California’s new Firehawk helicopters at CalFire’s McClellan Air Tanker Reload Base north of Sacramento, Newsom said the state is ready for the dangerous peak fire season despite the challenges of climate change, the state’s budget shortfall, coronavirus and an uptick in fires so far this year.  

Newsom said fire crews have already recorded 4,112 fires from January through July 4, compared with 2,580 fires on average during that period in past years.  

“We believe, despite the increase in fires, that the team here is up to the task,” Newsom said.  

The news about adding more seasonal firefighters comes as 98 of the state’s 192 inmate fire crews have been shut down due to the aggressive spread of COVID-19 through California’s prison system. Inmate crews help create fire breaks at fires large and small across the state.  

Despite facing a $54 billion budget shortfall this spring, Newsom said California has continued to invest in firefighting personnel and equipment. He cited $85.6 million included in this year’s budget for an additional 172 permanent, year-round firefighting staff. The governor also pointed to $285 million the state will spend on 12 Black-Hawk-model helicopters, which he said will be able to fight fires at night unlike older models.  

Also on Thursday, Newsom’s Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said evacuations could look very different this year due to the coronavirus, which continues to spread across the state.  

“We may be putting you into hotels to keep people separate so they’re not congregating,” Ghilarducci said.  

When that’s not an option, he said more traditional evacuation centers may have temperature checks, mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing, individual meals and enhanced nursing staff.  

CalFire Chief Thom Porter encouraged the public to wear a mask whenever they interact with firefighters to keep everyone safe, noting that firefighting “is a partnership with the community.”  

Newsom also provided California’s latest COVID-19 numbers. Those include:  

  • 7,031 new cases over the past day
  • A seven-day average of 8,043 new cases
  • A positivity rate of 7.3 percent for both the last seven-day and 14-day periods, up 2.2 percent from two weeks ago
  • A single-day record of 149 deaths due to COVID-19 over the past day. The previous high was 115 on April 22, according to state records.
  • An average of 73 lives lost per day over the past seven days
  • A 0.4% increase over the past day in hospitalizations
  • A 0.1% decrease in ICU cases over the past day

The governor warned the disease is not going away, adding the numbers show how “deadly and devastating this disease continues to be.”

 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  
Was this story useful?
yes
no

Will you help us improve our fires coverage? Head to our wildfire survey page to tell us what you think.

    More about Coronavirus

  • NIAID-RML via AP

    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

    The coronavirus has impacted nearly every aspect of life in California and around the world. Here are resources and all our coverage at CapRadio and NPR.

    More about wildfire

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    California Wildfires: Latest Updates

    CapRadio provides the latest information and updates on wildfires hitting the state, and resources for listeners to help prepare, follow and respond to fire.

 Coronaviruswildfire

Chris Nichols

PolitiFact California Reporter

For the past dozen years, Chris Nichols has worked as a government and politics reporter at newspapers across California.  Read Full Bio 

 @christhejourno Email Chris Nichols

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

The Great Culling: Which California bills did legislators kill?

May 20, 2022

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli and courtesy of Rafa Garcia

Three Democrats square off to represent Sacramento in the state Senate

May 23, 2022

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Newsom, lawmakers vow to speed up gun control bills after Texas school shooting

May 25, 2022

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.