calfire

California Fire Camps Key To Reducing Prison Overcrowding

Katie Orr — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:07:39 +0000

Reducing overcrowding at California prisons is not easy. Generally, inmates must either be released or given more space, which is expensive. But there is a third option. Inmates can be sent to fire camps. That's a cornerstone of Governor Jerry Brown's plan to reduce prison overcrowding in response to a federal court order. State Government Reporter Katie Orr takes a closer look at what these camps entail.

State to Delay Sending Residents Fire Protection Bills

Joe Moore — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 01:32:13 +0000

The state of California is putting a temporary halt to sending out new bills to some rural homeowners in the enforcement of a controversial fire prevention fee.

The delay comes as CAL Fire is sorting through a backlog of thousands of appeals from mostly foothill and mountain residents. The state was planning to send out another round of bills in April.

Governor Brown Calls Hidden Funds at CAL FIRE 'Boring Story'

Amy Quinton — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:57:39 +0000

California Governor Jerry Brown is calling news that the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection hid funds in a nonprofit account for several years a "boring story."

As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, Republicans are criticizing what they call Brown’s casual dismissal of the news.

The discovery of $3.5 million of unreported money at CAL FIRE didn’t get much of a response from the Democratic governor.

Anti-Tax Group Sues Over Fire Prevention Fee

Amy Quinton — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:24:43 +0000

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of California property owners who are charged a fire prevention fee.

The suit by the anti-tax group claims the fee is really a tax requiring a two-thirds vote in the legislature. It seeks to overturn the fee, which costs property owners $150 for every habitable structure on their property.

The suit was filed against the California Department of Forestry and the Board of Equalization. But Association President Jon Coupal places the blame on the legislature.

Cal Fire: Wildfire Danger Still High

Steve Milne — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:31:39 +0000

The hot weather is expected to end throughout most of California on Thursday, with cooler temperatures in the forecast. But with no significant rainfall in sight, state officials warn of continued fire danger.

So far this year, Cal Fire crews have responded to more than 5,300 wildfires. That’s nearly 20% more than average. And state officials say the threat of new fires isn’t over.

“Even though the calendar says ‘October’ fire danger level is high. We want people to be prepared.”

Dry Lightning Sparks Increased Fire Danger

Ben Adler — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:03:13 +0000

The weather forecast for Northern and Central California over the next few days has state fire fighters on high alert. CalFIRE’s Daniel Berlant says thunderstorms and strong winds could lead to dry lightning. "When we get lightning-sparked fires, there can be dozens – even sometimes hundreds – of fires spread out through a large area.

Cal Fire Burning Through Its Budget

Bob Moffit — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:21:59 +0000

Fire season in California is about half over, but the state has already spent more than two-thirds of its $93 million firefighting budget.

H.D. Palmer is with the California Department of Finance. He says the state is prepared to pay, whatever the cost.

“If we do spend more for fire suppression than is in the budget, that doesn’t mean that the tankers don’t fly, that doesn’t mean the hand crews aren’t out there, that doesn’t mean the trucks don’t show up, we will have emergency appropriation authority to do that.”