That money is part of a $1.3-billion commitment to local communities across the country to help clean up hazardous materials, restore forests and repair infrastructure damaged by wildfires, Harris said. The funding will support 17 new projects in the West, including two in California — one on the Six Rivers National Forest and one on the Klamath National Forest, Vilsack said. In the 20 years ending in 2019, wildfires burned 12 million acres in California; over just the past two years, 7 million acres in the state burned, he said. Assuming this baseline continues, the funds represent a 350% increase over past yearly investments, the Forest Service said. KeyWords:: 8fabdace-0dba-4581-b222-6227952af2868fabdace 0dba 4581 b222 6227952af286BC-ENV-CALIF-WILDFIRES-HARRIS:LABC ENV CALIF WILDFIRES HARRIS LA

Source: Los Angeles Times January 22, 2022 07:48 UTC