COLFAX, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is defending California's wildfire prevention efforts while criticizing the federal government for not doing enough.
He jabbed Wednesday at Republican President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized California's Democratic leaders for poor forest management.
Newsom says 33 of 35 forest-thinning projects are on pace for completion by year's end after he eased environmental laws. They are designed to slow the spread of wildfires near more than 200 communities in fire-prone areas.
Records show many of the projects are getting a slow start. Newsom spoke after touring a project in the Sierra Nevada foothills northeast of Sacramento that officials say is about 30 percent complete even as the state enters the height of wildfire season.
The governor says the state is also hiring nearly 400 additional seasonal firefighters.