In October of last year Governor Brown signed an executive order to create a Tree Mortality Task Force. The task force consists of over 80 local, state, and federal agencies, as well as utility companies. 10 counties that span from Placer County down through the Central Sierra to Kern County have been the main focus of the tree removal effort. Cal Fire, Cal Trans, county public works crews, and utility companies have been removing dead and hazardous trees. Officials are also urging the public to remove dead trees around their homes in order to reduce the wildfire threat.