What’s the Plan to Fund Wildfire Resilience? The Time to Invest is Now.
California Legislature: After nearly every wildfire disaster, communities pose the same question: why weren’t risk reduction projects completed before disaster struck? Californians want proactive investment to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Without it, the public will rightly ask why the state failed to act sooner. What is the Legislature’s plan to fund wildfire resilience?
The Legislature Must Act Now!
The Wildfire Solutions Coalition calls on the Legislature to take immediate action to:
- Restore and protect the $200 million that has been traditionally invested in wildfire resilience.
- Allocate $500 million of Prop 4 wildfire funding to meet the urgent need for greater investment in wildfire resilience.
The Warning Signs Are Clear
Recent reporting has highlighted the growing gap between California’s wildfire resilience needs and available funding. Independent coverage continues to underscore the risks of delaying investments in prevention, preparedness, and community resilience.
Wildfire resiliency advocates are warning that the loss of these funds will leave the state vulnerable to devastation and are calling on California’s next governor to take that threat seriously. Read the article.
Achieving the Action Plan’s goals will require sustained, long-term funding that matches the scale of the challenge. Read the article.
The Costs of Delaying Action
California cannot afford to scale back investment in wildfire resilience. Without sustained investment, Californians face higher insurance premiums, rising utility rates, public health threats from wildfire smoke, and growing disaster costs.
- Wildfires cost Californians $117 billion in damages each year, driving up insurance, electricity, and water costs.
- 89% of voters feel the cost of living in California is a serious problem.
- Over 50,000 Californians have died from wildfire smoke impacts since 2008.
- Wildfire smoke could contribute to more than 70,000 deaths nationwide by mid-century, with Californians facing some of the highest risks.
- Every $1 invested in reducing the risk of catastrophic events like wildfire saves more than $6 in damage and cleanup costs and $22 in future economic losses.
- Nearly 7 in 10 California voters support increased investment in wildfire resilience.