“Volatile” Fire Season Predicted

Fire officials look at a fire season - that seems to have already started.

Fire officials are warning that it is going to be a long and intense fire season throughout California.

Matt Collins is a Cal Fire Firefighter and of all the year he could have become a firefighter, he had to pick this one. "It's a little scary.”

He joined Cal Fire only three weeks ago, and while it may be impossible to predict the number and size of this year’s fires, every Southern California firefighting agency agrees on one thing: this year looks bad.

Chief Steve Early of Riverside said it’s “One of the most significant fire seasons that we've faced in many, many years."

Cal Fire reports that between the Powerhouse, Springs, Summit, Hathaway, and other fires, about 50,000 acres have burned this year in the state. That’s five times more than an average year at this time.

Chief Daryl Osby of the LA County said it’s "Probably the most volatile fire season that's projected based on our 100-year history."

The biggest problem is a lack of moisture. The brush that isn’t dead will burn almost as easily as the brush that is.

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Chief Ken Pimlott, the Cal Fire director, said, "Fuel conditions are unprecedented in recent history."

The chiefs predict fire fuel will be its driest in July, two months ahead of schedule. While that is out of our control, the chiefs remind us that nearly 95% of fires are started by us.

Chief Pimlott said, “Bottom line, its people that start fires, which means 94% of fires can be prevented."

"We need your help, be alert out there”, said Chief Early.

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