Legislation would make it easier to use controlled burns to reduce wildfire fuel

A bill currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature would increase legal protections for private entities setting controlled fires, paving the way for more prescribed burns as a wildfire suppression tool.

Prescribed burns can break down potential wildfire fuel — such as downed trees — and reduce the spread of wildfires. Professionals setting prescribed burns — called burn bosses — can be held liable if the fire they set gets out of control and causes unintentional harm or requires firefighters to intervene. Under current law, these burn bosses are held to the standard of simple negligence — whether they use an ordinary level of care.