Fox's Baier falsely suggests CA won't receive “millions of stimulus dollars” for forest firefighting

Written by Jocelyn Fong

Published

Citing a report that the U.S. Forest Service “will spend $2.7 million in the nation's capital,” Fox News host Bret Baier falsely suggested that Washington, D.C., rather than California, “will receive millions of stimulus dollars allocated for forest firefighting.” In fact, the Forest Service has announced that more than $60 million in stimulus funds has been allocated for “Wildland Fire Management” projects in California, and the Department of the Interior has committed another $3.3 million for “Hazardous Fuels Reduction” in the state.

Baier: “Even though” CA has been battling fires, “it is Washington, D.C., that will receive millions” for forest firefighting

From the September 11 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier:

BAIER: Even though Californians have battling -- have been battling raging forest fires, it is Washington, D.C., that will receive millions of stimulus dollars allocated for forest firefighting.

The Washington Times reports the Forest Service has announced it will spend $2.7 million in the nation's capital. The money will go to the group Washington Parks and People, which sponsors festivals and refurbishes urban parks.

One California Republican lawmaker whose district has seen some of the worst fires says, quote, “Funds that should be used to thin our overgrown forests and protect the public are being frivolously spent on park restoration.”

Our calls to the Forest Service were not returned.

CA is set to receive 20 times more stimulus dollars than D.C. to fight forest fires

$60 million for “Wildland Fire Management” projects in California. As of September 9, the Forest Service has announced numerous projects for “Wildland Fire Management” to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act totaling more than $60 million.

$3.3 million from the Office of Wildland Fire. The Interior Department's Office of Wildland Fire has also announced that $3.3 million in stimulus funds will go toward “Hazardous Fuels Reduction” in California.