Support SB 838: Funding Fire Prevention and Protection in California.

Help California's Fire Safe Councils protect firefighters, families, and our precious environment!

The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) is seeking funding from the State of California via the legislative process to prevent the potentially devastating effects of wildfire and support cost-effective fire prevention strategies. Senate Bill 838: Fire Prevention and Protection was introduced to the California Senate in February 2007 by Senator Dave Cogdill of Fresno.

Click here to read the full text of the bill and track its progress.

Why SB 838 is Necessary

• Over the past 5 years wildfires in California have consumed more than 3 million acres.Annual carbon emissions from these fires were roughly equivalent to that of 1.5 million cars.
• In 2003 alone, more than 6,000 homes and structures were destroyed and 23 people died, not forgetting the 5 firefighters who gave their lives last year to protecting Californians. This will only increase over the next decade as California's population continues to grow in the wildland-urban interface.
• Wildfire is becoming a significant threat to California's environmental health. Increasing concerns regarding climate change and its effect on water supplies and forest health have led to concerns that wildfires will intensify and last longer throughout the spring and summer.
• The state has focused most of its resources toward fire suppression, even though every $1 spent on fire prevention saves $7-10 on fire suppression. Current funding for identified community-based fire prevention programs falls $26 million short annually. Federal funding is woefully inadequate and unstable to meet California's increasing wildfire prevention needs.

• Make legislative findings and declarations concerning wildfire threats in the state and the California Fire Safe Councils.
• Provide that the Legislature intends to establish a cost-share, community-based wildfire threat reduction and prevention program administered by the California Fire Safe Council in conjunction with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL-FIRE), to assist in implementing the following wildfire threat reduction programs:
1. Fire safe council prevention and fuel reduction projects -- Wildfire threat reduction projects targeting areas identified and/or prioritized in collaborative, community-based fire plans.
2. California Fire Safe Council and Clearinghouse -- Costs associated with operating the California Fire Safe Council and the Grants Clearinghouse.
3. Fire safe council coordinators and operating costs -- Costs associated with operating Fire Safe Councils other than the California Fire Safe Council.
4. Fire safe educational programs -- Programs to increase awareness and create citizen action to improve wildfire survivability around the home and/or community, with priority placed on targeting areas identified and/or prioritized in collaborative, community-based fire plans.
5. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection community fire prevention specialists.

1. Write a letter to your state representatives and ask your friends and neighbors to sign on to your letter. Click here to see a Sample Letter of Support. To identify your Assembly or Senate representative, please visit: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.
2. Post your letter at www.firesafecouncil.org by emailing a copy to cafiresafe@sbcglobal.net. Write in the Subject Line: "SB 838 Support Letter 'Your Organization Name".
3. Join our list of supporters by filling in our online form here.
4. Join our SB 838 support committee by signing in here.
5. Talk about SB 838 every chance you get! See our Talking Points for ideas.