California’s wildfire insurance crisis is 0% under control, so much so that the state can’t get coverage for its own firehouses, Politico reports.
Reporting on the irony that emerged at a state Senate budget subcommittee hearing in Sacramento on Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration defended the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s request for $11 million to replace a kitchen at one of its camps .
Cal Fire usually pays for building maintenance with bonds, but it could not do so for this project because it could not insure the facility.
An analyst at the state finance department lamented, “The insurance industry was not interested in selling insurance policies in the area because of the danger of fire in the area.”
State senators from both parties were incredulous, Politico wrote.
“We can’t get fire insurance at a fire station where firefighters are stationed,” said state Sen. Brian Dahle. “That’s where we are in California. To me this is madness.”
