Cal Fire has already responded to 850 fires since January 1st, 2015. Just last week, Cal Fire responded to 172 fires. 172 fires in one week! There have been 70% more fires responded to than average already this year, and it’s not even “fire season” yet. This year, fire season has no season. Lets just call it a “fire year”…
California is in the depths of its historic drought. Nearly all of California is under the “exceptional drought”, the most severe, category. This drought has been going on for 4 years now.
Last week @CAL_FIRE responded to 172 new wildfires. Since Jan 1 – nearly 850 wildfires. 70% above average. Prevent wildfires. #OneLessSpark
— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) April 20, 2015
The absolute lack of water and moisture currently in California is putting the state is a dire situation.
“You get explosive fire growth” – Cal Fire captain Mike Mohler
California’s fire season generally occurs between summer and early fall. Late September and October’s Santa Ana and Diablo winds (east winds) fuel the most vicious of California fires.
Winter is when California is wet and generally avoids wildfires. This year, that wasn’t the case. There was such little moisture this year that fires burned in California year round this year. 35 homes and 7,000 acres were burned in the Eastern Sierra’s Swall Meadows during February 2015.
“California, brace yourself. From what we’ve seen, it’s coming.” – Swall Meadows resident Annie Barrett Cashner
Wow