Senator Padilla tours Pacific Palisades site after Los Angeles fires
The Office of Governor Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator for California, has reported that Senator Padilla and California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot visited the Pacific Palisades fire recovery zone alongside federal and state emergency officials.
The delegation included representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CAL FIRE, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
During the site visit, Senator Padilla announced the introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a new bipartisan bill aimed at reducing wildfire risks and improving federal forest management.
Legislation aims to coordinate wildfire prevention and response
According to the Office of Governor Alex Padilla, the Fix Our Forests Act seeks to streamline federal processes and improve response to wildfires through coordinated agency action.
The bill proposes the creation of a National Wildfire Intelligence Center to facilitate interagency coordination and accelerate mitigation efforts such as hazardous fuel removal and construction of fire breaks.
Senator Padilla said: “As thousands of Los Angeles families look at a long road to recovery ahead, we need to do everything in our power not just to rebuild, but to prevent devastation from future wildfires.
“That’s why with these LA communities in mind, I convened a bipartisan group of Western Senators to reassess how we prevent and respond to wildfires.
“Our Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act would increase the speed and scale of our wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts by expediting the removal of hazardous fuels, building ‘fuel breaks’ to stop mega wildfires, and creating a National Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response.
“We’re breaking through this harsh political climate with bipartisan solutions to both fight deadly wildfires and prevent even more greenhouse gas emissions – we can’t take this opportunity for granted.”
California officials endorse forest management improvements
California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot voiced support for the proposed legislation during the visit to the Pacific Palisades site.
Crowfoot said:
“The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act removes barriers and builds on California’s progress to accelerate more work on federal lands, faster.
“As an all-lands, all-hands approach, it is one more tool in the arsenal against the threat of wildfires.
“As we enter peak fire season, reducing catastrophic wildfire risk requires everyone to do their part.”
CAL FIRE Assistant Region Chief Josh Nettles added: “Across California, we are working year-round to reduce wildfire risk and enhance prevention efforts, and we are seeing results.
“Now by enhancing interagency coordination and promoting fire-resistant building methods and defensible space practices, the Fix Our Forests Act will help protect communities in the wildland-urban interface and elsewhere.”
Context of wildfire impacts and emissions in California
The Office of Governor Alex Padilla has stated that factors including drought, climate change, and dry vegetation have contributed to increasingly destructive wildfire seasons.
In 2024, nearly 9 million acres burned in the United States, compared to 2.7 million acres in 2023.
California reports more than 7,500 wildfires annually, and many of its largest and most destructive fires have occurred since 2017.
In addition to destruction, wildfires release greenhouse gases that undermine climate mitigation efforts.
The Office reported that California’s 2020 fire season emitted enough greenhouse gases to offset nearly two decades of state emissions reductions.
Fix Our Forests Act: Summary
Senator Alex Padilla introduced the Fix Our Forests Act in response to recent Southern California wildfires.
The Office of Governor Alex Padilla reported the bill was announced following a site visit to the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area.
The bill was developed through bipartisan negotiations with other Western senators.
It includes provisions to remove hazardous fuels and construct fire breaks.
It proposes a National Wildfire Intelligence Center to support interagency coordination.
California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot supports the bill’s goals.
CAL FIRE Assistant Region Chief Josh Nettles highlighted its potential community impact.
The American West has experienced an increase in wildfire activity due to prolonged drought and climate change.
Total U.S. acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024.
California has seen most of its largest fires since 2017.
Wildfires in 2020 released emissions that offset decades of progress in California.
Senator Padilla has introduced additional bills on wildfire resilience, prevention, and recovery.
