Officials warn of unprecedented fire season
Firefighters statewide are preparing for an unprecedented fire season, announced CalFire Director Ken Pimlott, at a press conference in Paso Robles this week. Pimlott and other fire fighting officials gathered at CalFire’s air attack base at the Paso Robles Airport to warn residents of the approaching danger as part of Wildlife Awareness Week, from May 4-10.
Three years of below normal precipitation has led to vegetation that is tinder dry, Pimlott said. There have been 1,245 fires in California since January 1, he said. That is about twice the typical number, he said. In portions of the Central Coast, firefighters never left the last fire season, he said.
In addition to warning residents, CalFire is preparing additional firefighters, engines, air attack bases, bulldozers, and hand crews to battle the expected blazes.
Pimlott said they expect water availability to be limited and plan to use low-water firefighting, including dry mop up. According to the state’s snow survey on May 1, the statewide snowpack water content is only 18 percent of normal.
The firefighters urged residents to take defensible actions that can help keep communities safe, including clearing brush, trees, and flammable materials around homes, and working with neighbors to build defensible common spaces.
For more information on preparing for wildfires, visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
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