New California Law Aims to Prevent Wildfires During Vegetation Clearing
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) — A new California law aims to reduce the risk of wildfires during vegetation-clearing operations by requiring workers to have fire-suppression equipment readily available.
Assembly Bill 2075 follows the 2024 Mountain Fire in Ventura County, which investigators traced to hot debris from a tractor tire involved in an earlier fire near Somis.
On October 30, 2024, a tractor caught fire while clearing brush near Balcom Canyon Road and Bixby Road. The resulting Balcom Fire was accidental, according to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
“The cause of the fire was accidental. We were unable to determine that there was any malicious or reckless conduct, but nevertheless, we looked at the facts and asked ourselves, was any of this preventable?” Nasarenko said.
Investigators determined that hot debris from the tractor tire was later dislodged by strong winds and ignited dry vegetation nearly a week later, sparking the Mountain Fire.
The November 2024 Mountain Fire burned nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures.
Nasarenko said the incident highlighted the importance of having fire-suppression equipment immediately available at vegetation-clearing sites, particularly in areas with dense vegetation and difficult access.
AB 2075, authored by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, addresses how quickly workers can access firefighting tools when equipment malfunctions or an accidental ignition occurs.
The law requires covered vegetation-clearing operations to have basic firefighting equipment available, including a fire extinguisher and a serviceable shovel attached to or carried on a motor vehicle. For workers on foot using power tools, the requirements include having a fire extinguisher within 25 feet and sufficient shovels readily available.
The goal is to help workers respond to an accidental ignition before flames spread through dry vegetation.
In a written statement, Bennett said the Mountain Fire demonstrated how a single spark, combined with extreme winds and dry conditions, can lead to a catastrophic wildfire.
“AB 2075 grew directly out of the hard lessons learned in Ventura County to ensure that those conducting vegetation clearing operations have the necessary tools and safeguards on hand before work begins,” Bennett said. “The bill is a commonsense measure to protect workers and guarantee justice for fire victims.”
The new law seeks to strengthen fire-prevention requirements for covered vegetation-clearing and agricultural operations across California.
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