The Biden administration has announced nearly $200 million in grant funding to reduce wildfire risks.
Vice-President Kamala Harris says the funding will support 100 projects in 22 states and on 7 tribal lands. “We used to talk about wildfire season, now wildfire season is all year round,” she says. “Over the past 30 years, the number of acres burned per year by wildfire, has more than doubled.” Funding was issued through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says these grants will ensure that local and tribal communities will have the tools needed to keep communities safe. “We’re now able to work at scale to better manage our national treasure,” he says. “Mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires and protect life and property.”
Vilsack says the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024 also includes significant funding increases for wildland fire and hazardous fuels management.
