►
Description
Governor Gavin Newsom highlights the State of California's wildfire and response efforts. Recorded April 8, 2021.
A
Well,
good
afternoon,
everybody
thank
you
for
coming
out
here
to
shaver
lake
area
and
being
here
to
talk
about
a
really
important
subject.
My
name
is
tom
porter.
I
am
the
state
forester
and
director
of
cal
fire,
also
the
department
of
forestry
and
fire
protection,
and
why?
Why
make
such
a
big
effort
to
focus
on
fresno
and
shaver
lake
in
general?
A
What
we're
doing
is
really
making
sure
that
we
are
making
an
investment
in
fire
protection,
fire
prevention,
fire
suppression
that
is
commensurate
with
the
problem,
and
this
location
is
perfect
for
that.
Okay,
we
have
the
creek
fire.
The
creek
fire
is
one
of
california's
worst
fires
ever
the
creek
fire
was
not
a
lightning
fire,
so
it's
one
that
we
could
have
seen
at
any
time,
even
without
the
ra,
the
lightning
that
happened,
that
that
really
consumed
a
lot
of
the
efforts
later
in
the
season
last
year.
A
A
A
A
B
Thanks
so
much
again,
I'm
wade
crowfoot
our
natural
resources
secretary.
First,
I
want
to
acknowledge
the
week-to-week
heroism
exercised
by
the
men
and
women
of
cal
cal
fire.
Clearly,
every
summer
cal
fire
works
diligently
to
respond
to
these
wildfires
with
partners
from
our
forest
service
and,
of
course,
local
firefighters,
responding
through
mutual
aid
and
the
governor.
Our
legislature
continued
to
build
cal
fire's
capacity.
B
That's
more
boots
on
the
ground,
more
planes,
more
helicopters,
more
state-of-the-art
technology,
and
I
think
I
can
safely
say
that
we
have
the
most
sophisticated,
wildland
firefighting
force
in
the
country,
if
not
the
world.
But
let's
be
clear,
we
are
not
going
to
respond
our
way
out
of
this
crisis.
B
The
science
is
clear:
warming,
winter
temperatures
and
warming
summer.
Temperatures
across
the
american
west
are
creating
more
challenging
and
dangerous
wildfire
conditions
consider
last
wildfire
season.
Five
of
the
six
largest
wildfires
in
the
state's
history
were
burning
at
the
same
time
last
summer,
including
the
creek
fire
where
we
are
today.
B
It
also
includes
more
investment
and
focus
on
building
protection
around
communities,
and
that
includes
the
the
fuel
breaks
that
chief
porter
talked
about
today,
that
are
protecting
communities,
whether
isolated
communities
in
the
sierra
nevada.
Like
we
sit
like
we,
where
we
are
today
or
suburban
or
urban
communities
in
southern
california,
and
in
greater
los
angeles.
B
The
third
dimension
of
that
approach
is
not
only
in
in
communities
around
communities
but
broadly
across
the
landscapes.
We
need
to
do
more
forest
management,
more
large-scale
management
to
reduce
our
density
of
our
forests,
reintroduce
prescribed
fire
which
our
tribal
communities
have
been
practicing
for
thousands
of
years.
It's
these
actions,
it's
these
investments
along
with
response
that
will
actually
build
our
resilience
to
these
catastrophic
wildfires.
B
B
We
are
very
fortunate
and
thankful
for
the
leadership
of
the
legislature
in
their
close
alignment
with
governor
newsom
on
on
making
these
investments
real.
So
as
the
governor
will
mention
in
just
a
little
bit,
the
legislature
and
the
governor
have
agreed
to
actually
deploy
over
half
of
that
billion
dollars
immediately
through
early
action,
which
will
provide
a
head
start
on
all
of
those
actions
that
I
just
described
upfront
actions
to
build
our
resilience.
B
B
So
while
we
can't
sugarcoat
the
fact
that
this
summer
is
going
to
be
challenging,
we
are
just
getting
out
of
our
second
consecutive
dry
winter,
and
what
we
can
expect
this
summer
in
wildfire
conditions
is
more
of
the
same.
From
last
summer,
I
think
I'll
end
with
a
note
of
optimism,
because
never
before
has
california
spent
this
amount
of
funding
and
priority
on
both
responding
to
these
wildfires
and
ensuring
that
these
catastrophic
wildfires
don't
grow
into
the
dangerous
wildfires
that
they
have
been
in
the
first
place.
B
C
I
was
here
not
too
many
months
ago,
then,
with
a
candidate,
as
vice
president
kamala
harris
surveying
the
site
a
little
bit
later
in
september,
and
trying
to
understand
the
magnitude
of
the
creek
fire.
Some,
you
know:
375,
000,
acres,
later
856
structures,
fourth
largest
most
devastating
fire
in
terms
of
size,
scale
and
scope
in
our
state's
history.
This
community
has
been
disproportionately
impacted,
so
I
want
to
just
acknowledge
that
the
intensity,
the
stress
and
the
challenge,
not
only
that
experience
last
september,
but
going
through
the
experience.
C
At
the
same
time,
we're
trying
to
deal
with
the
once
in
a
generation
pandemic,
those
are
twin
crises,
likes
of
which
we
hope
will
never
have
to
go
through
again
and
so
to
the
entire
community
out
here
in
fresno
county
to
all
the
extraordinary
firefighters
and
the
folks
on
the
front
lines.
Just
hats
off,
and-
and
thank
you
for
your
patience,
your
perseverance
and,
more
importantly,
as
I
travel
around
and
was
driving
around
the
sites
and
seeing
people
back
in
their
homes
and
and
seeing
people
back
out
here.
C
C
C
C
So
we
can
start
surging
and
preparing
for
this
wildfire
season.
Why
use
my
emergency
authority
to
do
that
again?
Sense
of
urgency
and
recognition
of
the
moment
we're
in
as
wade
said,
the
hots
are
getting
hotter.
The
drives
are
getting
drier,
there's
a
new
reality.
If
you
don't
believe
in
climate
change,
you
don't
believe
in
science.
You
believe
your
own
damn
eyes.
C
Something
is
happening
as
it
relates
the
issue
of
climate
and
that's
exacerbating
conditions
and
making
the
challenge
of
wildfire
suppression
and
prevention
that
much
more
ominous,
and
so
we
are
here
mindful
of
the
macro
realities,
also
mindful
of
the
situational
realities,
to
do
more
and
do
better
not
only
to
address
the
systemic
issues
of
climate
change,
and
no
state
in
america
is
doing
more
in
that
space,
but
also
to
be
mindful.
We've
got
to
do
more
in
terms
of
forest
management.
We've
got
to
do
more
in
terms
of
vegetation
management.
C
We've
got
to
do
more
getting
in
to
our
forests
and
do
the
kind
of
work
that
you
know
was
being
done.
100
2,
3
5
000
years
ago
that
frankly
we
haven't
been
doing
in
the
last
century,
and
we
got
to
own
that.
You
know
I've
been
around
25
months
and
I'm
proud
of
the
fact.
The
first
action
I
took
as
governor
of
california
was
up
there
in
placer
county,
a
chief
porter,
announcing
our
prioritization
and,
at
that
time,
record
investments
in
this
space.
C
But
I
can't
make
up
for
50
years
we're
trying
now
to
do
that,
and
we
recognize
that
that
requires
efforts
to
do
prescribed
burns.
It
requires
efforts
to
get
mechanical
equipment
out
into
the
force
to
prepare
for
those
prescribed
burns.
It
requires
hand,
crews,
it
requires
more
personnel,
but
it
requires
intentionality
requires
a
plan
and
we
have
a
plan.
100
directives
are
part
of
our
action
plan.
C
I
say:
love
and
respect
by
offering
half
of
our
investment
to
manage
federal
forests,
even
though
california
only
manages
three
percent
of
the
forested
land
in
the
state
of
california.
Those
numbers
can't
be
repeated
enough
because
nine
out
of
ten
members
of
the
public
don't
know
that,
and
probably
half
of
them
won't
even
believe
that
just
three
percent
of
the
land
in
the
state
of
california
is
under
the
direct
jurisdiction
of
the
state.
C
But
that
doesn't
mean
it's
not
our
responsibility
to
do
more
and
better
to
build
partnerships
with
private
we're
on
private
land
here
and
with
the
federal
government
right
behind
me
to
your
left
right
and
behind
you,
and
so
that's
what
this
is
all
about.
It's
getting
rid
of
those
barriers,
it's
not
about
finger,
pointing
not
about
closed
fists,
open
hands
about
collaboration,
memorandums
of
understanding.
C
We
signed
one
with
the
u.s
forest
service,
committing
to
double
double
our
forest
management,
working
together
in
a
collaborative
spirit,
one
million
acres
minimum
and
we're
going
to
have
to
do
more
than
that.
But
the
fact
that
we
have
that
framework
is
very
exciting
fact
that
we
have
a
president
that
wants
to
fund
the
federal
efforts
is
also
exciting
and
the
state
of
california
legislative
leaders
we're
doing
our
part
and
that's
the
announcement
today
with
the
state's
contribution
to
those
efforts.
Yes,
we're
going
to
do
more
c-130s.
C
D
C
Folks,
stranded
out
there
that
were
just
looking
to
recreate
and
to
spend
a
little
time
away
with
their
families.
Yes,
we
will
have
their
back
as
well,
more
suppression,
strategies,
more
prevention
strategies,
more
regional,
long-term,
medium-term
strategies
and
a
greater
sense
of
urgency
than
ever
in
contemporary
california.
History.
C
C
C
When
you
experience
last
august,
a
heat
dome
over
the
entire
west
coast
of
the
united
states,
with
world
record
breaking
high
temperatures
in
our
own
backyard.
California
130
degrees
in
our
state,
not
the
middle
east,
the
state
of
california,
when
you
experience
that
and
the
experience
manifested
in
560
wildfires
sparking
all
at
the
exact
same
time,
even
record
investments
in
this
space
are
not
enough
to
deal
with
the
magnitude
of
that
reality,
and
so
this
is
a
strategy
of,
and
it's
not
about,
the
tyranny
of
orr.
C
D
C
E
C
Yeah,
so
I
can
I'll
ask
chief
porter
to
come
up
who's
responsible
for
getting
it
and
to
be
exact.
It's
1399,
I
mean
if
you
find
an
extra
person.
I
think
we
can
fund
that.
So,
let's
round
up
to
1400
but
13.99
and
there's
components
within
that,
there's
surge
components
temporary
as
well
as
ongoing.
I've
got
a
budget
that
includes
an
additional
143
million
dollars.
That's
in
front
of
the
legislature
for
30,
more
fire
crews,
we've
added
a
lot
new,
a
lot
more
engines
in
the
last
year
as
well.
C
A
I
will
be
more
specific,
but
also
concise,
really
where
for
the
the
piece
of
this
that
is,
where
are
those
jobs?
Those
jobs
are
going
to
be
local
throughout
the
state,
we're
going
to
be
adding
these
fire
crew
capabilities
and
the
jobs
that
are
associated
with
those
throughout
california.
So
it's
part
of
a
strategy
that
we
already
had
been
moving
on.
C
D
Hi
governor
this
is
jocelyn
with
cbs47.
I
had
two
questions
really
relating
to
the
central
valley,
specifically
one
you
were
back
here
in
september
with
vice
president
kamala
harris
now
to
be
back
here.
I
wanted
to
ask
you
why
specifically
fresno
county,
did
you
decide
to
come
back
here
and
make
this
announcement
and
second
question
just
when
we're
talking
about
climate
and
the
central
valley
being
disproportionately
impacted
throughout
this
year,
a
bipartisan
group
of
central
valley
lawmakers
sent
you
a
letter
asking
you
to
declare
a
state
of
emergency
on
california's
drought
and
regarding
water
shortage.
C
But
let
me
just
let
you
know
I've
been
a
fresno,
I
think
five
times
in
five
weeks
and
I'm
not
saying
that
to
impress
anybody
but
to
impress
upon
you,
I
it's
not
a
passing
interest,
the
county
to
me.
It's
full
commitment.
I've
been
here
primarily
as
it
relates
to
issues
of
vaccines
and
by
the
way
1.9
positivity
rate
among
the
lowest
positivity
rate
in
the
united
states
of
america.
21
million
vaccine
doses
have
been
administered
in
this
state.
It's
the
sixth
most
in
the
world,
seven
plus
million
more
than
any
other
state.
C
Three
million
doses
were
administered
in
the
last
seven
days,
which
is
record
for
the
state
of
manufactured
supply.
We
hope
everybody
is
taking
advantage
50
and
over,
which
is
what
I
did
last
week
of
the
opportunity
to
get
that
shot
administered.
I
got
the
j
j.
As
I
say,
the
best
of
the
three
is
the
next
one
available,
and
I
encourage
folks
to
avail
themselves-
everybody
16
and
over
next
week
on
april
15th,
where
there
will
be
no
restrictions
in
terms
of
accessing
these
vaccines.
C
A
C
C
D
F
Governor
newsome
vanessa
vasquez
abc
30..
You
touched
on
this
a
little
bit,
but
especially
with
the
creek
fire,
we
ran
into
federal
state,
private
and
county
jurisdiction
issues.
You
touched
on
the
response,
but
is
there
any
effort
to
make
preventative
measures
uniform
throughout
and
if
so,
what
does
that
look
like?
Well.
C
C
These
regional
plans
and
by
the
way,
the
funding
that
we're
putting
out
this
536
million
dollars
supports
regionalism,
supports
grants
for
conservancies,
supports
efforts,
private
state,
regional
and
federal
efforts
in
order
to
do
just
that
to
knit
these
together.
But
you
can
see
a
lot
of
that.
Knitting
was
already
taking
shape
in
the
last
couple
of
years
here
and
chief
porter
said
it.
C
C
and
five
projects
as
large
as
they
were
not
at
the
scale
that
is
required
of
millions
and
millions
of
acres
in
the
surrounding
communities.
When
it
comes
to
federal
land.
Has
the
biden
administration
said
anything
about
wanting
to
support
these
efforts?
Not
only
is
the
butt
administration
said
something
the
president
and
I
had
a
direct
conversation
on
this
topic
during
the
transition.
The
president
reached
out
on
two
subjects:
climate
change
and
forest
fires-
wildfires
broadly
defined,
and
we
talked
about
the
nuances.
C
It's
not
just
forest
fires,
wildfires
broadly
defined
and
by
the
way,
one
of
the
significant
components
of
this
536
million
dollars
is
that
recognition
that
some
southern
california
communities,
malibu
area
and
others
venture
very
different
conditions,
and
up
here
in
lower
sierras
or
even
more
broadly
in
the
sierras.
So
we
are
becoming
more
sophisticated
and
nuanced
in
terms
of
those
grants
and
those
funding
streams,
but
also
it
was
all
about
how
we
could
partner
more
collaborative
together
and
here's.
C
Why
it's
more
important
than
ever,
when
I
had
that
conversation
with
the
with
the
president-elect
in
december.
Here
we
are
just
a
few
months
later
and
it
was
just
announced
that
the
west
coast,
the
united
states,
77
percent
of
the
west
coast
of
the
united
states,
is
in
a
mega
drop
experiencing
extreme
drought
conditions.
So
this
is
no
longer
about
california,
just
oregon,
washington,
nevada,
but
now
new
mexico
colorado.
C
You
saw
some
historic
numbers
in
terms
of
acres,
burned
and
wildfires,
and
so
we
have
a
collaborative
with
the
western
states
governors
and
the
biden
administration,
and
we
have
language
that
they've
worked
on
in
the
stimulus
bills
that
is
very
advantageous
to
our
state's
efforts
and
the
flexibility
as
well
as
the
funding.
That's
come
in
that
we'll
be
able
to
draw
down
not
only
as
it
relates
to
the
stimulus,
but
also
in
their
budget.
That's
forthcoming
that
will
have
specific,
targeted
investments
for
these
efforts.
C
That
it
well
thank
you
all
very,
very
much
for
coming
out
and
again
just
tip
of
the
hat
to
cal
fire
to
all
our
mutual
aid
partners,
to
local
firefighters,
men
and
women
in
uniform
across
all
jurisdictions
and
stripes
from
the
national
guard
to
california,
highway
patrol
fresno,
sheriffs
and
our
local
law
enforcement
agencies.
Thank
you
for
work.
You've
done
and
we're
very
mindful
of
the
work
we
anticipate
you'll
be
will
be
manning
of
you
in
the
upcoming
months
and
everybody
take
care.