Even though fire season ended two weeks ago, cold winter months
and the holiday season can pose significant fire risks that can
ruin homes and businesses.
Hollister – Even though fire season ended two weeks ago, cold winter months and the holiday season can pose significant fire risks that can ruin homes and businesses.
This year’s fire season, which runs from May to November was busy, but not terrible California Department of Forestry Fire Captain Manuel Guerrero said Monday.
“It wasn’t as bad as we’ve had before,” he said. “It was pretty average.”
The California Department of Forestry lays off most of it’s firefighters at the end of fire season and only has one firefighter and one engineer on duty in San Benito County during the winter, Guerrero said. During the winter months, temperatures drop while rainfall and humidity levels increase. Such conditions turn the grass green and keep brush fires to a minimum, he said.
Although conditions are changing, the CDF was under high alert for wild fires last week, Guerrero said. The CDF responded to three wild fires last week. Two were caused by birds flying into power lines and a third was started when a vehicle parked close to the road caught fire, he said.
“There will still be fires,” Guerrero said. “But not in the magnitude that we have in the summer. And right now is the beginning of the burning season for the farmers and ranchers.”
After the fall harvest, farmers clear their fields by burning the remnants of crops in order to get rid of waste and prepare for the spring planting season. Such fires are controlled and happen on scheduled days, Guerrero said. But sometimes controlled burns can get out of hand and cause serious damage to neighboring farms or ranches.
“It happens – big gusts of wind can blow embers and start fires,” he said.
While brush and vegetation fires are uncommon in the winter, the holiday season brings its own dangers. Heaters, Christmas trees and candles often cause a rash for home fires in Hollister every year, Hollister Fire Chief Bill Garringer said Monday.
“In the winter we see more structure fires from heating appliances,” he said. “Normally the holidays are pretty quiet, but on Halloween we had a big fire – you never know when they are going to happen.
Most winter fires are caused by heating appliances, Christmas trees, candles, fireplaces and stoves Garringer said.
Garringer urges those who use space heaters to be vigilant and recommends the heaters never be left unattended.
“Really, we don’t like to see them at all,” he said.
Portable space heaters are risky when used near blankets or flammable household items such as carpet and curtains, Garringer said.
Dry Christmas trees are extremely dangerous.
“There are a lot of oils in pine trees,” Garringer said. “They are very volatile, very explosive. You barley have time to get out of the house before the whole room is on fire.”
Most Christmas tree fires can be prevented by making sure the tree is well watered and far from candles and other open flames, Garringer said.
Garringer also warned that ovens should never be used as heating devices. Ovens can deplete the oxygen supply raising carbon monoxide levels. Carbon monoxide is odorless and kills many people across the country in their sleep each year, he said.
In order to keep safe during the winter, residents should clean their chimneys and clean or replace the filters on their heating appliances.
Residents can prevent tragic fires this holiday season by taking precautions and remaining vigilant, Garringer said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
