Leaders in Butte County are signaling to Gov. Gavin Newsom that the area still needs help with wildfire recovery. County supervisors voted to send a letter to the governor asking him to not lose sight of the county’s needs in the wake of other recent disasters.
The letter opens by pointing to state support for Los Angeles, which experienced wildfires earlier this year that caused billions of dollars of damage.
“In light of the tragic LA wildfires and State resources aiding response and recovery,” Butte supervisors write in the letter, “Butte County wishes to highlight ongoing recovery challenges from successive catastrophic wildfires that the County has experienced.”
Supervisors say millions of dollars are needed to fix problems caused by multiple wildfires that have taken place in Butte County.
Over the past six years, the 2018 Camp Fire, 2020 North Complex and 2024 Park Fire together killed 101 residents, and destroyed more than 20,000 homes and structures – eliminating 15% of available housing in the area, the letter said.
Supervisors say these disasters have had lasting regional impacts.
Fires have destroyed well and wastewater systems in three communities. This includes Berry Creek, Richardson Springs and Lake Madrone. Supervisors are asking for $10 million from the state and federal government to fix these systems, and another $7 million to help remove sediment from Five-Mile Basin for better storm control.
The request surrounding Five-Mile Basin comes alongside other North State representatives, including Assemblyman James Gallagher and Senator Megan Dahle, who earlier this week sent their own letter to the state asking for funding to address basin conditions.
Butte County supervisors wrote 15,000 homes and businesses are at risk for flooding due to the basin issue, pointing to burn scar runoff and sediment buildup in Big Chico Creek.
Damaged roads are also a concern. The board requested $138 million of state support to address road infrastructure that was heavily damaged by state-run clean up efforts.
“Federal funding for infrastructure repair is extremely limited and the State continues to deny financial responsibility for their debris removal contractors damaging roadways,” the letter said.
Supervisors also stated a need for support from Newsom with rebuilding assistance, fire mitigation and insurance for homeowners.
Letter to Trump about tariff concerns also discussed
Newsom isn’t the only leader who will soon receive communication from Butte County about concerns in the area.
At the meeting, a letter to President Donald Trump and other federal officials regarding tariffs and how they might affect Butte County exports was also mentioned by Board Chair Tod Kimmelshue.
“I would just like to look into possibly a letter written to President Trump, Congressman LaMalfa and the Secretary of Agriculture just expressing our concern as to how these tariffs will affect our local agricultural products, and possibly other products produced here in Butte County and how that would affect our local economy,” Kimmelshue said.
Staff agreed to put that letter on an agenda for a future meeting.
