Fire Outlook
Q&A with CCA Fire Subcommittee Chair Anthony Stornetta by Director of Communications Katie Roberti
Q
What did the State’s fire resiliency efforts consist of over winter and as of lately?
A
Behind the scenes there was a lot of project paperwork that was submitted. A lot of CEQA that was being conducted and a lot of projects that were starting to get off of the ground. Funding for a majority of these projects and the vegetation management and wildfire resiliency grants all took effect in 2021. For last year and the year before there were more black acres and prescribed fire projects completed than in the past few years. However, I still do not think we are where we need to be. We have a long way to go. As for the 2022 Prescribed Fire Strategic plan, we are supposed to have 400,000 acres burned by 2025. I am optimistic that there are many government and non-governmental agencies working towards this goal. If cattlemen are interested in burning reach out to your local prescribed burn associations or CalFIRE units for more information and to get projects on the books.
Q
What do you expect for this year as far as resiliency projects?
A
There is a lot of project prep and mandatory paperwork being completed and reviewed through the state and local agencies. There were a lot of projects that came to fruition last year, with just as many or more planned for this year
18 California Cattleman July 2023
and next. It was reported recently by CalFIRE staff that a lot of grant funding was pushed out. It was pushed out through prescribed burn associations (PBAs), range improvement associations (RIAs), CalFIRE ranger units, and contract counties to get these special projects off the ground. In 2021 the Governor approved a wildfire resiliency package of $1.5 billion. In May of 2022 another $98 million was approved for forest health projects. There was $250 million in requests for the 2022-23 wildfire prevention grants, where there is only $115 million available. People are actually requesting the funding and it’s getting out there for projects. In speaking with a CalFIRE executive, it was relayed to us that the Governor just approved another $15 million to be distributed spring of 2023, so the projects are on the books.
Q
As far as what’s coming up as we head into summer do you have an outlook for what this year’s wildfire season is going to look like? How much will the extremely wet winter make a difference in how this wildfire season is going to look?
A
No surprise to anyone, but the state received a lot of rainfall, most of us saw 150 to 200 percent of normal rainfall and snowfall. That does have