California Seeks Faster Forestry Approvals in Wildfire Fight

February 06, 2019

Along with other California wildland managers, Keith Gilless said Tuesday that they want to speed up logging and prescribed burns designed to slow wildfires that have devastated communities in recent years. After the deadliest and most destructive blazes in state history, officials are scrapping 12 years of efforts and starting anew on creating a single environmental review process to cover projects on private land, such as cutting back dense stands of trees and setting controlled fires to burn out thick brush. The state also must consider changes to zoning and land use decisions in areas that are prone to wildfires; make individual homes less likely to burn; improve evacuation routes; and increase community preparedness.  Read the full SFC article here.