Yuba-Sutter Times

Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa expressed his appreciation for the allocation of $75 million in funding aimed at developing shaded fuel breaks in U.S. Forest Service Region 5. He credited President Trump and Secretary Rollins for facilitating this financial support, which is primarily directed toward California.

"I'm grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for making $75 million in funding available for shaded fuel break projects in the west. Of that, $70 million will be directed to California, helping fund crucial wildfire prevention efforts. This funding, allocated by disaster relief legislation at the end of last year, comes at a critical time as California faces another devastating fire season,” said Rep. LaMalfa. "With over 1 million acres burned last year alone, shaded fuel breaks are a vital tool in protecting our towns, forests, and firefighters. We have seen the effectiveness of these measures firsthand during the Park Fire, and I look forward to seeing their implementation across Northern California."

Mark Emmerson, CEO of Sierra Pacific Industries, highlighted the significance of this public-private partnership: “This public-private partnership represents a major step forward in wildfire prevention, creating an interconnected network of fuel breaks that will slow fire progression, improve firefighter safety, and better protect communities, watersheds, and critical infrastructure.” He acknowledged the leadership role played by Secretary Rollins and USFS Chief Moore: “We are grateful to Secretary Rollins, USFS Chief Moore, and the Administration for their leadership in this effort. By strategically linking fuel breaks across both public and private lands we can maximize their effectiveness in reducing wildfire risk.”

Shaded fuel breaks involve managing strips of land where vegetation is thinned out while maintaining tree canopy cover to reduce flammable material on forest floors. These projects aim to slow wildfires' spread and create safer conditions for firefighters.

The majority of this funding—$70 million—is earmarked specifically for projects throughout Northern California to bolster defenses against fast-moving wildfires threatening towns and infrastructure.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa serves as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus representing California’s First Congressional District covering several counties including Butte and Shasta.