California announces Form the “West Coast Health Alliance”“Officials said Friday in Oregon and Washington State that the Golden State will join 12 other states, provinces and territories to prevent and suppress wildfires.
this Northwest field fire fighting compact When a fire exceeds the capacity of a single jurisdiction, it allows its U.S. and Canadian members to share fire resources and technology. Partnership is a bigger, faster, more frequent fires as California strives Climate change fuels – As the Trump administration Cut U.S. Forest Service staff and budgetThis is the largest federal firefighting entity in the United States.
“Although the Trump administration retreated from fire, California proudly teamed up with our northwestern neighbors to fight catastrophic wildfires,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We are all on the frontline of this deteriorating wildfire threat – we will be more effective by adding our collective resources to the conservation community.”
The current members of the Northwest Compact were first established in 1998 and include Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Hawaii in the United States, as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Columbia, and Yukon, as well as the Yukon and Northwest territories in Canada. Nevada also joined the group this week, bringing the total number of members to 13.
The move comes as the news agency escalates its efforts to isolate the state from the hostile federal government. Newsom and President Trump have resolved in recent months As widespread as immigration raids and California’s ability Set your own vehicle emission standards. On Wednesday, Newsom announced that in large-scale shootings by doctors and scientists at the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California, Oregon and Washington “to maintain scientific integrity in public health.”
But for California, wildfires are still a special pain point. In January, staff tried to curb Devastating fire This ruined part of Altadena in Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades. Firefighters are Fighting over 25 active fires are currently underway In the state.
In Friday’s announcement, state officials noted higher temperatures, shifts in rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme wind events Intensified fire risk in recent yearsAnd said joining the Northwest Compact will give California additional fire protection resources and expertise during major events. Officials say the covenant will also promote California firefighters to gain experience in firefighting efforts in other member areas, while other members “increase home readiness.”
“Wildfires are no longer a problem with our borders and state lines,” Joe Tyler, head of California’s forestry and fire department, said in a statement. [Northwest] Compactly, we are building stronger connections, sharing knowledge, and ensuring that when fire threatens, we can react faster and more efficiently. ”
The Trump administration has recently Defeat federal fire and disaster response resources. This year’s White House fired or bought out Nearly 5,000 forest services As part of its broader initiative to reorganize the federal government to reduce waste and save taxpayers’ funds. At least 1400 Later asked to come back.
The government has taken similar actions on the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including layoffs, budget cuts and office closures, which experts say will hinder fires – forecasting and disasters – responsiveness, Among other challenges.
California’s fire season is halfway through June to November, but has been getting longer and longer in recent years. National Inter-Agency Fire Center’s September Outlook Requirements High-altitude wild fire At least at the end of this month, the entire state of California and most of the surrounding states.
Earlier this week almost Twenty-two fires broke out After a lightning storm occurred in Calaveras, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. A building that destroyed several buildings in a historic gold mine town in China.
