LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit is formally opening fire season in Northern California on June 4.
The opening of fire season this year is nearly two weeks earlier than it opened in 2011. Cal Fire reported last week that it already has handled nearly double the fires this year than it did last year, as Lake County News has reported.
The Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit – which includes the counties of Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Colusa and Yolo – is ramping up unit staffing in preparation for deployment of resources to incidents locally and statewide.
On June 4, the unit will staff an engine at each of its 20 stations, as well as 11 fire crews, three dozers and one helicopter.
The Sonoma Air Attack Base will be opened on June 16, staffing one air tactical aircraft and two tankers, with a support ground crew.
On June 25, Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit will achieve peak staffing including 31 engines, five dozers, 11 fire crews, three fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter.
To meet peak staffing needs for the 2012 Fire Season, the unit augments its permanent work force with the hiring of seasonal firefighters. Seasonal firefighters receive training in wildland and structural fire firefighting, as well as, required certification in hazardous materials and emergency medical response.
Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Tim Streblow reminded residents they also can prepare for fire season by making their properties fire safe by creating a 100 foot of defensible space zone around their homes and outbuildings.
“Creating a defensible space increases the survival of a home during a wildland fire incident, as well as providing fire fighting personnel the upper hand in battling a wildland fire on their property,” Streblow said.
California Public Resource Code 4291 addresses the mandatory maintain of 100 foot of defensible space around structures.
For information on how to create a fire safe home visit Cal Fire's Web site at www.fire.ca.gov or contact your nearest Cal Fire facility.