U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a $75 million Stewardship Agreement to enhance wildfire prevention efforts in California and Oregon. The agreement, formed in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), will fund the construction and maintenance of strategically placed fuel breaks on national forests. This initiative aims to protect communities, reduce wildfire risk, and improve forest resilience. The announcement was made by Secretary Rollins alongside Forest Service Chief Randy Moore and SPI CEO Mark Emmerson.
Under the agreement, 400 miles of shaded fuel breaks will be developed and maintained over three years, expanding the existing 2,200-mile network across private and federal land. Fuel break locations were chosen in coordination with the Forest Service and CAL FIRE to safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure. SPI will use its expertise in wildfire mitigation to accelerate project completion. According to Secretary Rollins, the partnership is expected to cut the standard timeframe for wildfire mitigation projects in half.
Firefighters and state officials have praised the agreement as a significant step in strengthening wildfire resilience in California and Oregon. The initiative is expected to improve firefighter safety and help slow wildfire progression in high-risk areas.
Source: USDA invests $75 million in wildfire prevention across California and Oregon