US Sets Aside , $490 Million For , Wildfire Mitigation Efforts.
NBC reports that the United States government
is boosting its efforts to protect vulnerable
areas of the country from devastating wildfires.
On January 19, the Agriculture Department
announced that $490 million will be earmarked
for projects aimed at reducing fire risks. .
The funding will be used for wildfire
mitigation efforts in Arizona, California,
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Last year, $440 million in funds from
Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure law was
set aside for wildfire mitigation projects.
Last year, $440 million in funds from
Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure law was
set aside for wildfire mitigation projects.
According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack,
the additional resources will help protect up
to 45 million acres of land in the western U.S.
According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack,
the additional resources will help protect up
to 45 million acres of land in the western U.S.
This expanse includes 134 high-risk
areas where wildfires pose a significant
risk to communities and infrastructure.
According to the USDA's Wildfire Crisis
Strategy, 250 of these high-risk "firesheds"
exist across the western U.S.
We expect and anticipate
that around 200 communities
in the western U.S. will see
a mitigated wildfire risk as a result, Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, via NBC.
NBC reports that ongoing "megadrought"
conditions have left states vulnerable to
the year-round threat of wildfires. .
NBC reports that ongoing "megadrought"
conditions have left states vulnerable to
the year-round threat of wildfires. .
We also factored into this determination
the most current predictive science and
research that will allow us to determine
where risks are highest. It’s not a matter
of whether or not a forest will burn.
It’s just a matter of when and where, Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, via NBC