Despite a growing state budget deficit, Governor Newsom says he’ll work with the Legislature to bolster wildfire reduction resources. His revised budget plan includes adding another 600 Cal Fire personnel over the next three to five years. Cal Fire Public Information Officer Lynne Tolmachoff says that will be of particular benefit to the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, which is one of the larger ones in the state…

Tolmachoff did not have a specific number for this area. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic still means some potential labor shortages, with the early release of jail inmates. Inmates can make up as much as 40-percent of a firefighting crew…

Tolmachoff says the number of inmate crews statewide has dropped by about 50 to 147 or 148. But she says that should also be partially offset by the increased use of personnel from the National Guard and the California Conservation Corps.