LOS ANGELES — The California Department of Finance has approved a transfer of $10 million from the state's budget reserve to remove debris left from two massive Northern California fires.
The DOF was acting under authority provided by Gov. Jerry Brown through disaster declarations, Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer said.
President Barack Obama separately named the two regions major disaster relief areas earlier this week.
The Valley and Butte fires together have burned more than 145,000 acres, displaced 31,300 residents and resulted in the loss of two lives, according to the DOF. The Valley fire is one of the most destructive in California's recorded history.
The fires that started Sept. 12 in southern Lake County and Sept. 9 in Calaveras County are 90% and 93% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"Immediate action must be taken to safely remove huge amounts of burned debris to eliminate the threat to lives, public health and safety," DOF Director Michael Cohen said in a letter to the leaders of the legislature's budget and appropriations committees describing the withdrawal from the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties. "Fast debris removal is also necessary to enable community rebuilding and economic recovery of impacted communities."
The department also told the committee leaders that additional funds will likely be needed to aid in the cleanup effort. A significant amount of the debris removal costs may be eligible for federal reimbursement.
