Governor Newsom recently visited McClellan Air Force Base to
highlight the state’s wildfire mitigation capabilities and
discuss new efforts to protect emergency personnel and evacuees
from COVID-19 during wildfires. The Governor also announced the
state would hire 858 more firefighters and six California
Conservation Corps (CCC) crews through October because of the
COVID-19 pandemic. These crews are anticipated due, in part, to
the reduction in inmate crews from correctional facilities.
Governor Newsom highlighted the major actions and investments
made to fortify wildfire preparedness and response
capabilities. CAL FIRE recently completed the last of its 35
emergency fuels management projects in May, completing 90,000
acres of treatment top protect 200 vulnerable communities.
The Governor highlighted this year’s budget investments include
augmenting CAL FIRE air fleet with new FIREHAWK S-70i helicopters
and C-130 airplanes, and bolstering firefighting surge capacity
and pre-positioning capabilities. This year’s budget included
$85.6 million in new, ongoing dollars to fund permanent
firefighting positions, and continues the funding for CAL
FIRE to procure innovative technology that allows us to model
fire behavior.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CAL FIRE has adjusted
firefighting operations to mitigate the spread of the virus
within its own crews by holding virtual briefings and keeping
non-essential base camp staff off site. CDSS and CAL OES have
updated mass care and sheltering protocols to include health
screenings, dedicated cleaning staff and medical professionals on
site.
All new sheltering protocols require:
Health screening on entry
Dedicated cleaning staff at all sites
Pre-packaged meals
Medical and mental health professionals on site.
In the event of an evacuation, the state is planning to secure
hotel rooms, college dormitories, Airbnb, fairgrounds, and
campgrounds to allow individuals to shelter in non-congregate
settings.
