CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit - Declares “Peak Wildfire Season”

SCU Wild-Fire season: In conjunction with the East Bay Regional Park District CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit, is declaring the start of the 2009 Fire Season on Monday, June 1, 2009. See Official News Release below:

CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Santa Clara Unit

CONTACT: Ken McGeever
Battalion Chief

Public Information Officer
(408) 779-6611
Media line (408) 779-0930

CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit Declares “Peak Wildfire Season” and Suspends Burn Permits

Morgan Hill - On Monday June 1, 2009 the Santa Clara Unit of CAL FIRE will be on Peak Wildfire Season status. The opening of Peak Wildfire Season is based upon weather patterns, fuel conditions and increased fire activity and varies geographically throughout the state. Additional firefighters are hired, dispatch levels are increased and fire response facilities are operated around the clock.

Additionally: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit will suspend all permits for open burning within the Sate Responsibility area (SRA) and the Local Responsibility areas (LRA) under contract to CAL FIRE. This applies to the counties of Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda, and areas west of I-5 in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

Santa Clara Unit Chief John Ellis said, “I would like to remind everyone that Peak Wildfire Season has arrived, and with the lack of rainfall, the moisture condition of the vegetation in parts of the county creates an extra hazard. So please use caution in the wild land areas.” He wants to remind us that “Peak Wildfire Season also means that a certain responsibility applies to the public”. The public has a responsibility under California law, to maintain a defensible space around all buildings in the wild land and wild land urban interfaces.

During Peak Wildfire Season, the threat of wildfire is increased. Therefore, CAL FIRE offers the following “5 “safety recommendations:

• Be extra careful with fire. Of the 6,000+ wildfires that CAL FIRE responds to every year, more than 90% are caused by people. Equipment use is the most common cause.

• Use weed eaters, chain saws, etc. only during the cool, moist times of day. Be careful not to send sparks into dry grass.

• Remember lawn mowers are only for lawns. They can actually cause fires if used on dry grass.

• Be prepared for the worst. Have a plan for gathering family members, pets and valuables in case an approaching wildfire requires evacuation.

• Create a defensible space around all structures. See the CAL FIRE website “Fire Safety Education” section at www.fire.ca.gov for specific requirements

The Santa Clara Unit serves: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.