Gavin Newsom oversold California’s fire prevention efforts. A journalist uncovered the truth

Scott Rodd of Capital Public Radio explains how the governor repeatedly overstated the state's achievements

California leaders have often touted the state's wildfire prevention efforts, which have taken on a new urgency as fire seasons continue to set grisly records. But a new investigation, published by Capital Public Radio, found that the governor, Gavin Newsom, has dramatically overblown the state's achievements.

The report, released in June, found that Newsom repeatedly overstated how many acres of the state were treated with fuel breaks and hazardous tree removal, along with other key elements of wildfire suppression. The report also found that the state's fire agency, Cal Fire, saw its fuel reduction efforts cut in half in 2020.