California Lawmakers Reject $1B to Protect Homes from Fires

Financial assistance would have been available to harden homes

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California legislative committee has stripped the $1 billion in funding from a bill to protect homes against wildfire through home improvements.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday removed the spending from a bill by Democratic Assemblyman Jim Wood.

It comes after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declined to commit to the spending last week. He’s said he would work with the Legislature to find money and “we’ll try to do our best.”

A spokeswoman for Wood says he’ll continue fighting for spending.

Wood’s proposal would have given $1 billion in financial assistance and rebates to people in high fire risk areas to harden their homes, such as by making their roofs fire resistant.

See also  CA Snowpack Off to Great Start Amid Severe Drought

Californians can already get up to $3,000 to retrofit their homes if they live in earthquake zones.

All contents © copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Financial assistance would have been available to harden homes     SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California legislative committee has stripped the $1 billion in funding from a bill to protect homes against wildfire through home improvements. The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday removed the spending from a bill by Democratic Assemblyman Jim Wood. It […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Evacuees: Understanding the Other Side of the Fence

Evacuees: Understanding the Other Side of the Fence

By Chad Costa This job is fantastic, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Being able to help during someone’s worst day runs deep in all first responders’ blood. However, the past few years have put us all through the wringer. Having been involved with the...