Abstract: With an emphasis on taking necessary
actions to protect vulnerable populations, and recognizing a backlog in
fuels management work combined with finite resources, the Governor placed
an emphasis on pursuing a strategic approach where necessary actions
are focused on California's most vulnerable communities as a
prescriptive and deliberative endeavor to realize the greatest returns
on reducing risk to life and property.Using locally developed and vetted
fire plans prepared by CAL FIRE Units as a starting point, CAL FIRE
identified priority fuel reduction projects that can be implemented
almost immediately to protect communities vulnerable to wildfire. It
then considered socioeconomic characteristics of the communities that
would be protected, including data on poverty levels, residents with
disabilities, language barriers, residents over 65 or under five years
of age, and households without a car. In total, CAL FIRE identified
35priority projects that can be implemented immediately to help reduce
public safety risk for over200communities. Project examples include
removal of hazardous dead trees, vegetation clearing creation of fuel
breaks and community defensible spaces, and creation of ingress and
egress corridors. These projects can be implemented immediately if
recommendations in this report are taken to enable the work. For more
details and a complete methodology, visit http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/45-Day%20Report-FINAL.pdfPurpose: Certain
populations in our state are particularly vulnerable to wildfire
threats. These Californians live in communities that face near-term
public safety threats given their location. Certain residents are
further vulnerable given factors such as age and lack of mobility. The
tragic loss of life and property in the town of Paradise during the
recent Camp Fire demonstrates such vulnerability.Recognizing
the need for urgent action, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive
Order N-05-19 on January 9, 2019. The Executive Order directs the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), in
consultation with other state agencies and departments, to recommend
immediate, medium and long-term actions to help prevent destructive
wildfires. The
polygons in this dataset describe priority fuels reduction projects
identified through EO N-05-19 as the highest priority for completion in
2019. For more detailed information and complete methodology, visit http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/45-Day%20Report-FINAL.pdf