California members of Congress want wildland firefighter jobs to become year-round

[quaint]

KTLA

California’s U.S. senators and nearly two-dozen representatives asked the Agriculture and Interior departments on Monday to transition their agencies to a year-round wildland workforce because blazes are no longer limited to traditional fire seasons.

The letter signed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and 21 members of Congress notes that 57% of forest land in California is owned by the U.S. government.

The request came after a disastrous 2020 in which more than 9,900 fires burned 4.25 million acres (1.72 million hectares), killed 33 people and destroyed nearly 10,500 homes and other buildings.

Although it is still early spring, a wildfire erupted during the weekend in Siskiyou County and grew to more than 870 acres. It was 80% contained Monday, Cal Fire said.

Hopefully, a no brainer.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That's a great idea and I hope it gets done. The old ounce of prevention still works. n/t

[Auggie]

2. Ditto