US Sets Aside , $490 Million For , Wildfire Mitigation Efforts.<br />NBC reports that the United States government <br />is boosting its efforts to protect vulnerable <br />areas of the country from devastating wildfires.<br />On January 19, the Agriculture Department<br />announced that $490 million will be earmarked <br />for projects aimed at reducing fire risks. .<br />The funding will be used for wildfire <br />mitigation efforts in Arizona, California, <br />Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.<br />Last year, $440 million in funds from <br />Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure law was <br />set aside for wildfire mitigation projects.<br />Last year, $440 million in funds from <br />Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure law was <br />set aside for wildfire mitigation projects.<br />According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, <br />the additional resources will help protect up <br />to 45 million acres of land in the western U.S.<br />According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, <br />the additional resources will help protect up <br />to 45 million acres of land in the western U.S.<br />This expanse includes 134 high-risk <br />areas where wildfires pose a significant <br />risk to communities and infrastructure.<br />According to the USDA's Wildfire Crisis <br />Strategy, 250 of these high-risk "firesheds" <br />exist across the western U.S.<br />We expect and anticipate <br />that around 200 communities <br />in the western U.S. will see <br />a mitigated wildfire risk as a result, Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, via NBC.<br />NBC reports that ongoing "megadrought" <br />conditions have left states vulnerable to <br />the year-round threat of wildfires. .<br />NBC reports that ongoing "megadrought" <br />conditions have left states vulnerable to <br />the year-round threat of wildfires. .<br />We also factored into this determination <br />the most current predictive science and <br />research that will allow us to determine <br />where risks are highest. It’s not a matter <br />of whether or not a forest will burn. <br />It’s just a matter of when and where, Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, via NBC
