Fire season is ramping up across California, with the Sandy Fire in Ventura County and the Bain and Verona fires in Riverside County raising new concerns about wildfire preparedness and prevention. In Sacramento, the Daily Signal spoke with state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil about whether California is doing enough to prepare for another dangerous wildfire season. “I know we’re not doing enough. … We know that fire risk is all year long, there’s no more wildfire season. It doesn’t matter whether you live in rural areas or urban areas, you’re at risk,” said Alvarado-Gil, whose district includes some of the most fire-prone communities in the state.  Despite her warnings, Alvarado-Gil’s wildfire mitigation legislation failed to make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, something the senator blames on Democrats in Sacramento.  “We’ve been ruled by a single-party state here in California for quite some time, so we know where to place the blame. … The Democratic supermajority consistently makes decisions on policy priorities and funding priorities that do not put wildfire management, or even risk reduction, at the top of that,” she said. The senator is calling for prescribed burns, a technique that fire agencies can use to clear dead brush and reduce the buildup of flammable vegetation. Critics argue the burns can harm native plants and wildlife. However, Alvarado-Gil says the burns are necessary and that avoiding them prioritizes animals over human life.  “Our forests are meant to endure prescribed burns, and what happens is it rejuvenates the flora and the fauna,” she said. “So, we’ve gone too far to the left in terms of prohibiting prescribed burns that we know work. Right now, the policies are more in favor of different animal species than human species.” In 2024, Alvarado-Gil left the Democratic Party and registered as a Republican. She said the Democrats’ policies are causing residents to flee the state.  “I’ve been able to see on both sides what is working and what is failing California,” she said. “For decades, the Democratic supermajority has been failing California. If you look at the cost of gas, insurance, home prices, you name it … the increase of unaffordability in California has driven people out of our state and has closed businesses.” Alvarado-Gil continued, “This is about overregulation, unfunded state mandates, and frankly, Californians who are just sick and tired of the same old programs squeezing our pockets with programs that don’t benefit us.”