Sacramento Standard

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblywomen Heather Hadwick and Kate Sanchez to impose stricter penalties on arsonists in California. This move comes as the state faces historic wildfires and significant losses due to fire incidents. In recent years, seven of the ten largest fires in California's history have transpired, devastating 3.8 million acres. Notably, approximately 20 percent of these fires have been attributed to arson, affecting large swathes of territory.

The proposed legislation, AB 297, seeks to implement a sentencing enhancement that adds three to five years for arsonists whose activities lead to the destruction of 500 or more acres of forestland.

Assemblywoman Hadwick, who represents California's 1st Assembly District, stated, “As a former county Emergency Manager, I have personally worked on wildfires started by arsonists and have witnessed firsthand the devastation it caused. We need more tools to enforce the law and support our communities and that includes harsher consequences for highly destructive behavior.”

Assemblywoman Sanchez of the 71st Assembly District added, “There is zero excuse for arson. These criminals knowingly cause fires that cost people their homes and lives. Our bill provides law enforcement more tools to keep these dangerous arsonists out of our communities.”

Recent statistics indicate a notable increase in arson arrests over the last decade, as reported by CalFire. Instances such as the 2024 Park Fire have highlighted the devastating impact of arson. This particular fire resulted in the destruction of over 400,000 acres and 709 homes in the counties of Butte and Tehama.

Hadwick's district encompasses parts of El Dorado and Placer counties and covers areas such as Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou. On the other hand, Sanchez represents regions including Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and various unincorporated areas in and around Temecula and Orange County.