California lawmakers are taking a groundbreaking approach to wildfire prevention by reviving traditional Indigenous land management techniques. A new bipartisan bill, the Good Fire Act, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Rogers, aims to expand prescribed and cultural burning across the state, potentially revolutionizing how California protects its landscapes.

The proposed legislation would make permanent emergency measures that allow Cal Fire to support community-led prescribed burns without extensive environmental review. This approach recognizes the critical role fire has played in Indigenous land stewardship for thousands of years.

One of the bill’s most significant provisions is expanding access to the state’s Prescribed Fire Liability Claims Fund. For the first time, tribal governments, volunteer fire departments, and resource conservation districts would be eligible for financial protection if a prescribed burn accidentally causes damage.

The bill also addresses bureaucratic barriers that have historically prevented more widespread use of prescribed burns. By simplifying certification requirements for burn professionals and reducing renewal requirements from annual to every three years, the legislation could dramatically increase the number of controlled burns conducted annually.

Paul Mason from Pacific Forest Trust emphasizes the critical nature of this approach, stating that the legislation will “help unlock the full potential of California’s prescribed fire workforce and facilitate the use of beneficial fire that our forests need”.

This innovative approach represents more than just a fire management strategy, it’s a recognition of Indigenous ecological knowledge and a potential game-changer in California’s ongoing battle against increasingly destructive wildfires. By empowering local communities and tribal nations to use fire as a land management tool, the Good Fire Act could set a precedent for ecological restoration and wildfire prevention.

As the bill moves through the legislative process, environmental advocates and fire management experts are watching closely, hoping this could be a transformative moment in California’s approach to landscape management and wildfire prevention.