Thursday, August 25, 2016

Fire Fueled by Drought While Democratic Lawmakers Cut Funds to Reduce Risk

The largest forest fire in the Sierra Nevada range so far this year has burned over 25 thousand acres in the mountains northwest of Bakersfield. The blaze is being fueled by drought-stricken and bug-killed trees. So far, 15 percent of the perimeter has been contained, but heat and high winds have been impeding the firefighting effort. Meanwhile, Democratic party lawmakers in Sacramento dramatically trimmed legislation that would earmark $200 million dollars in Cap and Trade funds aimed at clearing dead trees and overgrown vegetation in the Sierras that are intensifying wildfires. The amount was cut to only $20 million dollars. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.