A bill designed to reduce wildfire risk is heading to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.
SB 1260, which was authored by Santa Barbara County Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, would improve forest management practices. It would allow for more prescribed burns, set air quality standards for those burns, and allow firefighters to give input when planning new home construction in areas that have a higher fire risk.
"The 2017 and 2018 wildfires have been absolutely devastating and the problem is only getting worse. As a result of climate change, California faces year-round increasingly catastrophic wildfire seasons. We must recognize this new reality and take concrete action to ensure our communities are better prepared. That includes modifying our forest management practices in light of the impacts of climate change on our natural resources," said Jackson.
The bill passed off the Senate floor Friday on a 29-0 vote.
