ABC 7: Senator Alex Padilla and other state officials discuss wildfire readiness and response
By Kelly DeLeon
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) held a briefing with other state officials from California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Air Resources Board (CARB), and Region 9 Environmental Protection Agency to discuss wildfire readiness and response.
During the briefing, Padilla said he is working with state and federal officials to improve wildfire response at every stage.
Last month, he introduced a bill supporting efforts to put fires out faster. It is called the Fire Suppression Improvement Act. He said it would expand and streamline FEMA’s response to wildfires.
“We know that FEMA already pre-deploys resources and assets in advance of hurricanes or tornadoes. So the fire act, my bill, would enable FEMA to take similar action and pre-deploy assets and resources when there are red flag fire warnings. Those that we’ve become accustomed to here in California. “When it’s hot, when it’s dry when it’s windy, we know that the potential for those devastating fires is way up, and we want to be ready,” said Padilla.
When asked if state officials were working with federal partners to ensure a faster response to what happens on their land Cal Fire Chief Daniel Berlant said that although jurisdictions separate the state’s fire personnel, coordination occurs every minute of the day when a fire breaks out to ensure resources are provided.
The full briefing can be watched here.
Read the full article here.