We Need a New Approach to Fighting Wildfires

Wildfires continue to devastate communities across California, and yet, the systems we rely on to fight them remain outdated and inefficient. As someone running to lead this state, I believe we need urgent, meaningful reform in how we respond to these disasters.

When I ran for office in 2022, I raised these concerns directly to the City Council. Unfortunately, I was given only a minute and a half to speak — hardly enough time to address a crisis of this magnitude. Today, I’m speaking directly to you, because this issue can no longer be ignored.

Here’s the reality: when a fire breaks out, the response time is far too slow. It can take the fire department over 30 minutes to arrive on the scene. Meanwhile, a wildfire can spread at speeds of over 14 miles per hour. In half an hour, that fire has already traveled more than seven miles. A couple of fire trucks simply can’t stop that.

Take the Woolsey Fire, for example. Air support didn’t arrive for two and a half hours, and the primary tanker took nearly four. These aircraft are capable of launching within 20–30 minutes, but they aren’t cleared to act fast enough. Why? Because “standard procedure” tells them to wait. That’s not just inefficient — it’s dangerous.

This needs to change.

As your Governor, I will push for a proactive response system. The moment smoke is spotted, tankers and air crews should be in the sky — no red tape, no delays. Fires don’t wait, and neither should we. By the time fire trucks reach the area, the blaze should already be under attack from the air.

A faster, more aggressive response can save homes, lives, and resources. We’re all impacted by these fires, and we deserve a system that works.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Let’s bring real change to how California tackles wildfires.