Spending to fight California wildfires tops $1 billion - Los Angeles Times
About 1.4 million acres burned in 2008 in one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history. But no meaningful reforms are enacted at the state or federal level.
By Bettina Boxall
December 31, 2008
Wildfire spending in California continued its upward climb this year, driven by one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history.
Almost a quarter of all the wild land that burned across the country in 2008 was in California -- roughly 1.4 million acres.
The fires, fought at a huge cost to taxpayers, failed to translate into any meaningful reforms at the state or federal level despite efforts in Sacramento and Washington.
Lawmakers introduced a number of measures dealing with land use, fire prevention and protection. But the proposals stalled, or in the case of one major state bill, were vetoed.
In fiscal 2008, half of the $1.4 billion that the U.S. Forest Service spent nationally on wildfire suppression was spent in California alone. State fire expenditures topped $1 billion.
"I think we've seen unprecedented fires," said Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Click the link/title above to read the rest of this story. The photo is of the Freeway Complex fire.
The 30,000-acre Freeway Complex fire in the vicinity of the 57 and 91 freeways destroyed nearly 200 residences in Orange and Riverside counties in November. It was among numerous California wildfires that burned roughly 1.4 million acres in 2008. State fire expenditures topped $1 billion.
