California homeowners will soon be eligible for state grants to harden their properties against wildfire.
It's one feature of a half-billion-dollar funding package signed by Governor Newsom on Tuesday. With fires wracking the state each year amid deepening drought, legislators agreed with Newsom's plan to fight fire with money.
"It's comprehensive, it's balanced, it's thoughtful," said State Sen. Bob Wieckowski of Fremont, alongside Newsom at the Butte County announcement. "Loads of this money is going to local businesses and local fire councils so they can do the work immediately that needs to get done."
The huge lightning-caused fires of 2020 made it California's worst fire season for acreage lost. And so far the number of wildfires in 2021 is running double that of last year.