{"id":78320,"date":"2025-12-31T11:11:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T19:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=78320"},"modified":"2025-12-31T11:11:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T19:11:30","slug":"following-la-fires-governor-newsom-extends-key-provision-to-fast%e2%80%91track-wildfire-safety-window-protecting-more-communities-across-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=78320","title":{"rendered":"Following LA fires, Governor Newsom extends key provision to fast\u2011track wildfire safety window, protecting more communities across the state"},"content":{"rendered":"

What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on March 1 to streamline wildfire prevention projects following the Los Angeles firestorms, and today he extended a key provision to maintain momentum on that work. To date, California has fast-tracked more than 200 wildfire safety projects statewide, with approvals now happening in as little as 30 days instead of a year or more.<\/p>\n

What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on March 1 to streamline wildfire prevention projects following the Los Angeles firestorms, and today he extended a key provision to maintain momentum on that work. To date, California has fast-tracked more than 200 wildfire safety projects statewide, with approvals now happening in as little as 30 days instead of a year or more.<\/p>\n

“When we created this fast\u2011track forest management program, the goal was simple: cut through bureaucracy, honor our commitment to environmental values, and move faster to protect Californians from catastrophic fire. This order grants communities, tribes, and land managers additional time to get projects in the door so we can use the full rainy season for safe, science\u2011driven fuels reduction and beneficial fire.”\u00a0 Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Keeping California\u2019s fast\u2011track program moving<\/h2>\n

Nearly one year after launching California\u2019s expedited forest management initiative under the March 1, 2025 State of Emergency, the Governor is extending\u00a0 the central provision of the March 1 proclamation that governs when projects must begin in order to use the streamlined process.<\/p>\n

Previously, qualifying projects had to be \u201cinitiated\u201d in the calendar year 2025. Under today\u2019s action, eligible projects may now be initiated through May 1, 2026, allowing communities, tribes, resource conservation districts, utilities, and other partners to keep bringing forward high\u2011priority projects under the fast\u2011track pathway, particularly during the rainy season that is prime-time for beneficial fire projects to take place.<\/p>\n

Over 200 wildfire projects approved in weeks instead of years<\/h2>\n

Following Governor Newsom\u2019s wildfire emergency proclamation, state agencies, including the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency, have coordinated to streamline permitting and cut red tape for high-priority wildfire-safety projects while maintaining essential environmental protections. Through this fast-track process, projects are now being approved in as little as 30 days, saving a year or more of review time for more complex projects. This has helped local governments, tribes, resource conservation districts, electrical utilities, and non-profits secure permits quickly, enabling critical safety projects to be implemented on-the-ground faster than ever before.<\/p>\n

To date, 218 projects covering more than 40,000 acres have been approved statewide and half are already underway or have been completed. There are 50 approved projects in Southern California, including 10 projects covering nearly 1,000 acres in Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n

Notable projects include:<\/strong><\/p>\n