Litigation to nullify the $150 state fire fee was filed Thursday. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed the class action suit in Superior Court in Sacramento alleging the fee is really a tax and as a tax, the state Legislature did not legally approve it. Plaintiffs include a resident of the desert, a fire station…

Consider defensible space a “buffer” zone between a home or building and the potentially fire-prone grasses, trees and vegetation that surrounds it. The California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space, formed by creating two zones. Zone 1 is the area within 30 feet from a building, including outdoor decks, sheds and…

Last week, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced the relaunch of the free, online “Quick Guide to Props” tool for voters. “Quick Guide to Props” provides voters a helpful list of the top 10 campaign contributions, funding totals for each of the five statewide propositions, as well as a brief nonpartisan analysis. Information available…

While President Barrack Obama requested more funding in 2014 for the Forest Service’s Wildland Fire Management programs, staffing is nevertheless being reduced by five percent (nearly 680 positions). The overall Forest Service budget projects 1,100 fewer positions in 2014 than 2013. The increase for both preparedness and suppression activities hides the staffing cut. Fifty million…