SACRAMENTO–Today, Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) introduced AB 9, a bill that will expand statewide efforts to prevent wildfires.
Fifteen of the 20 most destructive wildfires in California have occurred in the last 10 years. Five of the six largest wildfires in California occurred in 2020 alone. There are historic fuel load levels in many California environments, along with the effects of climate change, has resulted in a dangerous environment for wildfires.
“Wildfires have devastated the state for years,” said Wood. “The fires of the past decade, and 2020 alone, have resulted in the tragic loss of lives and property and personal trauma which has resulted in thousands of homeowner’s insurance non-renewals forcing homeowners onto the California FAIR plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, at sometimes triple the cost of their previous policies.”
AB 9 will increase Californian’s capacity to prevent and reduce the impact of wildfire.
“Our firefighters and other first responders give us everything they’ve got every day of the year and they need our help to expand wildfire prevention efforts,” said Wood.
Approximately one in four residential structures in California are located within or in proximity to “high” or “very high” fire hazard severity zones identified on maps drawn by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“We’ve all seen, many of us firsthand, the devastation and havoc these wildfires have caused to people and communities and we must do everything we can to prevent future tragedies.”
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