The release of Cal Fire’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps is a positive step, but not a specific benefit to the local fire departments, according to Idyllwild Fire Chief Mark LaMont. The maps have value for fire departments, insurers, and property owners, but are not sufficient to address the issues of preventing the devastation from…
Rising wildfire costs drive insurance giant to request steep premium hikes State Farm General Insurance has requested that the California Department of Insurance grant a 22% rate increase due to the magnitude and devastation of the recent wildfires last month in Los Angeles County. SFG made the request in a Feb. 3 letter to California’s…
In the past month, the State Legislature has completed its Special Session, which Gov. Gavin Newsom called for on Nov. 7. Last week, the Assembly passed two bills to help the Attorney General defend the State’s policies from anticipated litigation or enforcement actions filed against the State. Two weeks earlier, the Legislature passed legislation to…
On Jan. 23, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills appropriating $2.5 billion to help fund the recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area after the devastation caused by multiple wildfires. The burning began Jan. 7. The Governor’s press release described the damage as hurricane-force fire storms. This was only 10 days after he made the…
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36) along with three other Congressmen introduced legislation that would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to proactively coordinate with states and localities on wildfire mitigation projects. The Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013 (H.R. 3333) places wildfires on par with other natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes….
