Red Flag Warnings As CAL FIRE Stresses Preparedness Due to Lack of Rain

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Red Flag Warnings As CAL FIRE Stresses Preparedness Due to Lack of Rain

Fire Activity up Over 45 Percent

An early increase in fire activity has CAL FIRE looking at the lack of rainfall as an indicator of a potentially higher fire threat this summer. Since the beginning of the year, CAL FIRE has responded to Nearly 700 wildfires, which is more than 200 over the average for this time of year.

Following an extremely dry winter, CAL FIRE has increased its staffing in Southern California for fire season.

“Our firefighters have responded to an increased number of wildfires due to the very little rainfall we have received over the past few months, Last week in Southern California we increased our staffing and moved our air tankers to their bases, which was needed as we saw several large wildfires over the weekend.” - said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director.

In late March, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted this year’s next-to-last snow survey and the low levels have CAL FIRE concerned about the impact to this year’s fire season. This final survey found that snowpack is just 52 percent of average statewide, according to the Department of Water Resources. Due to the low rainfall levels across the state from January to April, this year is likely to go down as one of the driest ever.

The lack of winter rains has resulted in dry low fuel moisture conditions across the state leading to a number of unseasonably large wildfires that have already threatened people, homes and the state’s watershed. Over the past few months CAL FIRE crews responded to an increased number of large wildfires including the 296 acre Becks Fire in Lake County, the River Fire in Inyo County which grew to 406 acres and most recently, the 311 acre Jurupa Fire in Riverside County.

“In many other areas of the state we are in the process of training our seasonal firefighters and monitoring weather conditions closely to determine our staffing levels,”“While we are busy transitioning into fire season, this is the time we want residents to begin preparing their homes for fire season by creating 100 feet of Defensible Space.” - said Chief Pimlott.

Homeowners Prepare for wildfires by taking these actions:

Maintain 100 feet of Defensible Space
Remove all dead plants, grass, and weeds from within 30 feet of your home
Trim trees 6 feet from the ground
Remove all leaves, pine needles and debris from roofs
Enclose all openings to home especially openings such roof and overhang vents with plywood or triple fine screened.
Purchase and maintain Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) including helmet, goggles and gloves. Nomex or cotton clothing, boots
Maintain water supply and hose lines, shovels and other tools in plain sight.
Prepare Maintain a "Go" bag, have vehicle pointed out ready to bug out.
Create an Evacuation Plan in case of a wildfire
In case of a wildfire decide to fight or flee early. Be decisive in your actions.

CFN - California Fire News 2013

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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

Wednesday, May 1, 2013