CA-SNF: 2012 fire season comes to a close

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CA-SNF: 2012 fire season comes to a close

The Sierra National Forest is ending the 2012 fire season due to
the recent rains, cooler temperatures and projected forecasts
transitioning to winter operations.

The end of fire season means that seasonal firefighters are released for the winter, fire lookout towers are unstaffed and high country fire stations are closed until next spring.
Fire staffing will be continuously monitored and maintained on a call-when-needed basis.

During the winter months, fire crews work on fuels reduction projects, trail-work and other various ecosystems restoration projects to enhance forest health and reduce the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire.

The Sierra National Forest experienced light-to-moderate fire activity this season with 48 human and 28 lightning caused fires, burning a total of 897 acres. All fires were quickly controlled by Forest Service firefighting resources.

California and much of the Western United States experienced heavy fire activity in 2012 due to drought conditions. Firefighting resources from the Sierra National Forest stayed very active assisting with suppression efforts.

Sierra National Forest personnel have just returned from assisting with recovery efforts on the East Coast due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Tuesday, November 20, 2012