Record High Temperatures Lead to Heightened Fire Danger

Red Flag Warning Prompts CAL FIRE to Increase Staffing

Sacramento – Expected triple digit temperatures, low humidity and breezy winds have elevated the fire danger over the next several days, prompting CAL FIRE to increase its staffing across many parts of Northern California. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning due to the heightened fire danger starting Friday afternoon and lasting through Saturday evening for parts of Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Lake and Colusa Counties. On Sunday in the higher country, dry thunderstorms and lightning are possible in the Northern, Central and Eastern Sierra Nevadas.

With the increased potential for new fires, CAL FIRE has brought on additional firefighters to staff extra equipment during the high risk days. “While we are hoping we can make it through the next couple of days with minimal fire activity, we are prepared to respond if Mother Nature doesn’t agree,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “With approximately 94 percent of our wildfires being human caused, we are strongly urging the public to be extra careful and to take the proper steps to prevent wildfires.”

Since January 1, CAL FIRE has responded to over 2,100 wildfires across California that have charred over 50,000 acres. Fire activity remains significantly higher than average; typically by this time of year CAL FIRE would have responded to only about 1,100 wildfires with 8,000 acres burned.

During the Red Flag Warning, CAL FIRE urges all Californians to exercise extreme caution outdoors in order to prevent wildfires. A few helpful reminders and fire prevention tips include:

• Don’t mow or weed eat dry grass on windy days
• Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, be sure to extinguish them completely
• Never pull your vehicle over in dry grass
• Never burn landscape debris like leaves or branches on NO Burn Days or when it’s windy
• Make sure all portable gasoline-powered equipment have spark arresters

For more ways to help prevent and prepare for wildfires visit ReadyForWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov.