Bill Text: CA SCR49 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Wildfire Awareness Week.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 14-5)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-24 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 69, Statutes of 2015. [SCR49 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SCR49-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 49 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 69
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 24, 2015
ADOPTED IN SENATE JUNE 22, 2015
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 11, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Berryhill
(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Gaines, Hall, Huff, Jackson,
Monning, Moorlach, Morrell, and Pavley)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Travis Allen, Bigelow, Brough,
Chávez, Dahle, Gallagher, Lopez, and Olsen)
APRIL 29, 2015
Relative to Wildfire Awareness Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 49, Berryhill. Wildfire Awareness Week.
This measure would declare the week of May 3, 2015, to May 9,
2015, inclusive, as Wildfire Awareness Week to raise public awareness
and encourage all residents of California to be prepared for
wildfires.
WHEREAS, Wildfires significantly impact California's
environmental, economic, and social well-being; and
WHEREAS, California is a dynamic place to live, work, and
recreate, with a diverse ecological environment; and
WHEREAS, The current drought and significantly increased
drought-induced mortality of trees and other natural vegetation
throughout the state create ideal conditions for severe wildfire
risk; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 95 percent of wildfires in California are
human caused and, therefore, are preventable; and
WHEREAS, The history of California wildfires has seen unparalleled
devastation, with wildfires comparable to the world's most
destructive fires in the past 150 years, and Californians should not
forget the lessons learned and impact from previous wildfires,
including, the 1977 Spanish Ranch Fire near Santa Maria, the 1970
Laguna Fire near San Diego, the 2003 Cedar Fire east of San Diego,
the 2007 Southern California fires, and the 2013 Rim Fire in the
Stanislaus National Forest that became the third largest wildfire in
California's history; and
WHEREAS, Wildfire suppression costs only represent a small portion
of the overall economic impacts and do not reflect the total cost of
large and damaging fires; and
WHEREAS, Residents must be encouraged to move from the expectation
of being protected from a wildfire to the understanding that they
must be prepared to survive a wildfire; and
WHEREAS, To do so, residents of this state will need to acquire
the knowledge and skills to prepare their homes to survive a wildfire
and to take action before the wildfire occurs; and
WHEREAS, The educational tools for preventing wildfires and
protecting against them when they occur already exist; and
WHEREAS, It is essential that we reach out to our communities and
individual homeowners with this information, because, armed with
knowledge, residents of this state can learn to live safely in a
wildfire environment; and
WHEREAS, "Wildfire Awareness Week" is a valuable opportunity for
California's fire agencies and communities to reduce the risk of
wildfires and increase public safety and awareness through education
on fire safety, preparation, and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Residents who implement appropriate prefire activities
improve the survivability of their homes during a wildfire; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares the week of
May 3, 2015, to May 9, 2015, inclusive, as Wildfire Awareness Week to
raise public awareness and encourage all residents of California to
be prepared for wildfires.
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
