U.S. Sens. Feinstein, Padilla push for $7.7 billion in wildfire recovery funds

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) urged Senate leadership to include a minimum of $7.7 billion and targeted tax relief in the disaster supplemental funding package requested by the State of California to respond and recover from the 2021 wildfire season.

“California is employing all of the resources at its disposal to combat these fires, but the explosion of fire activity this season has resulted in an immense strain on California’s resources, and it is impossible for the State and local governments to obtain the necessary resources to adequately support survivors and recovery efforts. The immense size and scope of this year’s wildfire season requires federal support,” the senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Vice Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL).

Wildfires in California have burned more than 2 million acres. The largest three of the wildfires, the Dixie, Caldor and River fires, have burned 1.2 million acres, requiring the services of over 15,000 firefighters. More than 50,000 residents have been evacuated because of the Caldor fire alone. Fires have destroyed more than 3,000 structures, including 1,842 homes, the senators said.

The response to the fires has imperiled the state’s financial resources, the senators said, requiring the federal assistance.