SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Ensuring all state resources are available to prepare for and fight wildfires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed his Department of Personnel Administration to exempt all California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) employees from the statewide furlough program during the 2009 and 2010 fire seasons.
“While we need to find savings in virtually all areas of state government, it is absolutely critical that we operate our firefighting operations at full capacity to protect lives and property from potentially devastating wildfires,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “California has experienced another dry year, creating especially dangerous conditions this summer, and with today’s action we will make sure all available personnel are ready and alert to spring into action when disaster strikes.”
Additionally in preparation for the coming dry summer, the Governor issued Executive Order S-05-09 last month mobilizing CAL FIRE to secure and deploy additional resources and personnel necessary to save lives and protect homes statewide from wildfires. He also issued a proclamation declaring May 2nd to 9th “Wildfire Awareness Week” to urge all Californians to do their part to prevent wildfires.
