MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – With temperatures heating up, fire danger in the Mendocino National Forest is starting to increase with the approach of summer.
As forest firefighters wrap up preparedness activities, visitors are asked to be careful with campfires, grills and anything that can throw a spark and start a wildfire.
The forecast for the weekend includes hot temperatures, as well as a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service through 9 p.m. Saturday that affects the eastern side of the Mendocino National Forest.
In addition to rapidly drying out fuels, high winds can also carry wildfires quickly.
“We had a drier than normal winter and our fuels are drying out quickly,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Marc Nelson. “However, this is pretty close to normal for the Mendocino National Forest.”
As the summer recreation season starts, more visitors are traveling to the forest to enjoy camping, fishing, backpacking and other favorite activities. This frequently includes having a campfire, using a portable stove or charcoal grill, or operating recreational equipment.
“We would like to ask visitors to be careful when they are using anything with a flame or that can throw a spark,” Nelson said. “The forest has been very fortunate in not having a large wildfire since 2008. While we can’t prevent fires starting from lightning, visitors can make a difference by helping us prevent human-caused fires.”
Preventing wildfires can be done by making sure campfires are contained within a fire ring in an area that has been cleared of any fuels. Campfires should also be put completely out and be cold to the touch before leaving the site. Stoves should be on a stable surface and not left unattended.
Mechanical equipment, including off-highway vehicles and chainsaws, should be equipped with approved spark arresters.
The forest has not entered into fire restrictions yet, but as fuels continue to dry out and the threat of wildfire increases, the firefighters on the forest are prepared for the season.
A little more than half of the employees on the Mendocino National Forest during the summer are wildland firefighters.
Currently there are 11 engines staffed on the forest, with eight engines working seven days a week and three engines on a five-day schedule. Six of the 11 engines cover the western half of the forest, with five providing coverage for the eastern half of the Mendocino.
There are four water-tenders and four fire prevention technicians. The forest also staffs two fire lookouts, one at Anthony Peak, the other at High Glade.
The Mendocino National Forest has two 20-person handcrews – the Mendocino Hotshots, based out of Stonyford, and the Elk Mountain Hotshots based out of Upper Lake. Each of these crews has already had assignments this year in Arizona and New Mexico.
In addition to these resources, the forest hosts and provides support to nine organized crews, which are available on an as-needed basis. These crews can be activated when fire danger increases, when local resources are unavailable, or when there is a need nationally. Last season the organized crews worked on fires in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Minnesota.
Each crew has 20 people staffing it. The forest hosts four crews out of Willits, five crews out of Davis, and also provides support and issues firefighting gear to the Guam, Samoa and Saipan Islander Organized Crews.
In partnership with the California Conservation Corps (CCCs), the Forest provides wildland firefighter training and support for a crew out of Ukiah.
“The Organized Crew Program is a huge asset for the Mendocino National Forest. Many of our permanent firefighters have come to the Forest Service as a result of their experience with the program,” Nelson said. “It’s a great opportunity for individuals to see if a career in wildland firefighting is something they want to pursue and, if they do want to continue, it provides them quality experience they can reflect when applying for jobs.”
Over the past few weeks, the forest has completed seasonal preparedness activities. This included firefighter training for the CCCs in Ukiah, fire readiness reviews and meetings with fire staff.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .