SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ Four months after the deadliest wildfire in California history, Gov. Gavin Newsom is declaring a statewide emergency to speed up fire prevention efforts.
Citing "extreme peril" to life and property, Newsom's Friday morning executive order will fast-track the state's tree clearing and other forest management work.
"The increasing wildfire risks we face as a state mean we simply can't wait until a fire starts in order to start deploying emergency resources," Newsom said in a statement. "California needs sustained focus and immediate action in order to better protect our communities."
His action comes just four months after Camp Fire devastated the Northern California town of Paradise in November, killing 85 people and razing nearly 14,000 homes.
Newsom also announced Friday how he'll spend money set aside in this year's budget to teach Californians to prepare for wildfires and raise awareness among vulnerable communities.
About $24 million will be focused in six fire-prone counties, including Lake and Fresno, and on helping community-based organizations spread the word. It will also include grants for groups that help pets and farm animals during disasters. Another $12 million will fund local and regional response teams and $13 million will finance a public awareness campaign.
Newsom's executive order points to more than 2 million California homes in rural areas, most of which are in high fire hazard zones.
The Democratic governor has proposed additional money for fire-fighting and prevention efforts in the next state budget, which he and lawmakers are still negotiating. His plans include more money for clearing trees, better alert systems, and remote infrared cameras to help detect fires early.
He wants to spend $40 million hiring 131 more firefighters and buy 13 new engines, although some lawmakers are pushing him to double that proposed expenditure.
