Governor Brown wants to give an additional $142 million to help the state through the drought. The drought has already caused an early fire season. Under the new spending plan, the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection would get $67 million more to suppress wildfires.
Janet Barentson with Cal Fire says the money would allow additional staffing and more flexibility.
“Right now we’re looking at Santa Ana winds in the southern part of the state as needed we can move resources from the north to the south, still maintain our initial attack capability in the north but move additional resources to the south or vice versa depending on conditions,”says Barentson.
The budget revision would also increase funding to monitor salmon, restore wildlife habitat and provide food assistance to communities most affected by the drought.
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