Thursday, October 11, 2007

TCU - "Off-Peak" Fire Season To Start Monday

Mike Noonan - Tuolumne-Calaveras CAL FIRE Unit Chief

Sonora, CA -- CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Mike Noonan has announced the gradual closedown of the fire season will be initiated next week.

Noonan labels the action as the initiation of the "off-peak" fire season. Currently the unit has six two engine stations. That will be reduced to six one engine stations. The total number of engines will be reduced from 21 to 15.

Noonan adds that CAL FIRE officials will closely monitor the weather. The hope is that moisture will help grow the green grass which in turn lowers the potential for wildland fires.


One-eighth acre fire was caused by late model pickup truck that plunged down a 150 foot embankment off Italian Bar Road.  22 year old Ralph M. Souza, Jr. died in the incident (6/20/07).

Noonan says the initial criteria in determining the end of a season is the fire behavior potential. The primary factor is weather and wind conditions. Fuel conditions are then taken into consideration.

As for the 2007 fire season, Noonan adds that while there have been a great number of fires he is extremely thankful there have been no major wildland fires. He is also thankful for Governor Schwarzenegger's executive order that added one firefighter to every engine. That, says Noonan, gave a tremendous lift to any unit's initial attack capabilities.
Original Story at: myMotherload.com Author: Bill Johnson

Related news: Effective 8am Monday the 2007 fire season will be over for Tehama/Glenn Unit also

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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

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