fire

Billing Begins for Second Year of Controversial Fire Protection Fee

By Katie Orr • Jul 3, 2013

For the second year in a row, California is charging rural homeowners a special fee for fire protection. The bills are coming a bit later than planned, but they are on their way. As Katie Orr reports from Sacramento, the fee's critics are as angry as ever and still hope to overturn it.

California is sending out about 800,000 bills beginning this month. The annual $150 charge is assessed to property owners with homes on land the state is responsible for protecting.

California Fire Camps Key To Reducing Prison Overcrowding

By Katie Orr • May 21, 2013

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.

Anti-Tax Group Sues Over Fire Prevention Fee

By Amy Quinton • Oct 4, 2012

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

By Steve Milne • Oct 4, 2012

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

By Ben Adler • Sep 6, 2012

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. That always is a challenge for us, because that means additional resources are needed.” So CalFIRE is placing more fire fighters on duty and staffing its reserve engines in preparation for the increased fire danger.

Cal Fire Burning Through Its Budget

By Bob Moffit • Aug 20, 2012

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.”

Fire Threatens Community of Meadow Lakes

By Joe Moore • Aug 11, 2012

UPDATE: Sunday 6:30 p.m. The Lanes Fire is now 80 percent contained. CalFire reports that 11 firefighters have been injured. UPDATE: Sunday 7:30 a.m. CalFire officials now say that the Lanes Fire has consumed only 138 acres and is 30 percent contained. Over 500 firefighters are at work battling the blaze. ---- Residents in the Fresno County mountain community of Meadow Lakes are being advised to evacuate their homes today due to a brush fire burning near the "four lane" section of Highway 168. As of 6:30 p.m. the Lanes Fire had consumed around 150 acres of dry brush.

Lightning Caused Fires Continue to Burn in Mountains

By Joe Moore • Aug 9, 2012

Fires sparked by lightning on Saturday continue to burn today in rugged terrain in the Sierra Nevada mountains, nearly a week after they began. In the Sierra National Forest east of Fresno the Bear Fire has consumed over 700 acres of timber between Edison and Florence Lake.

Ten smoke jumpers, four helicopters and four fixed wing aircraft are battling the blaze, which is in terrain ranging from 7,500 to 9,000 feet in elevation. The fire is currently 50 percent contained. No structures are threatened.

California's Budget On Hook For Wildfires

By Ben Adler • Jul 31, 2012

The wildfires blazing across California this fire season aren’t just burning through trees, grasses and homes, they’re burning through the state budget as well.

Fifteen helicopters. Seven bulldozers. 46 fire engines. And 900 people. It took all that to fight a single California wildfire this summer – the Robbers fire in Placer County. It’s paid for with a special state emergency fund. If that runs out, says H.D. Palmer with the governor’s Department of Finance.

As Their Numbers Dwindle, Prison Inmates Help Fight Fires

By Ben Adler • Jul 16, 2012

Fire fighters battling wildfires across California this week are getting support from hundreds of state prison inmates. That's been the case for years, but as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, Governor Jerry Brown's prison realignment is starting to reduce the number of inmates available to help.

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