A relatively mild summer, with temperatures two to three degrees
cooler than normal, has contributed to a quiet fire season in the
county so far, but officials say neither one may last for long.
A relatively mild summer, with temperatures two to three degrees cooler than normal, has contributed to a quiet fire season in the county so far, but officials say neither one may last for long.
The average temperature in Hollister for July was 79 degrees, opposed to an average normal temperature of 82 degrees, said Bob Benjamin, forecaster for the National Weather Service out of Monterey.
The numbers are expected to climb to the mid-80s in the coming weeks, he said.
Typically, Hollister experiences a high-pressure ridge that sits over the area, compressing the air and making it hotter during this time of year, Benjamin said.
“The high pressure hasn’t been as intense,” he said. “It’s not normal, but it does occur… because God made it so.”
The weather has had a substantial effect on the fewer number of wildland fires so far, and the fact that the county hasn’t experienced any major burns, according to the California Department of Forestry.
So far CDF hasn’t responded to any fires over 40 acres; the last large fire burned about 30 acres in an illegal garbage dump a month and a half ago, about four miles south of Highway 25, close to Panoche Road, said Battalion Chief Curt Itson.
But it’s still early in fire season, and both the weather and chance for bigger fires don’t start to heat up until September or October, Itson said.
“Weather is really what drives us, and we’ve been lucky so far,” he said. “A combination of being lucky with the weather and everybody trying to do their part in the county has been really good for us.”
CDF doesn’t track the number of fires they respond to until the end of fire season, Itson said.
People making conscious decisions to keep defensible space around their homes, such as keeping bushes, trees and grass trimmed, and mowing their lawns in the morning when it’s cooler all helps to keep fires at bay, Itson said.
But unseasonably cool temperatures won’t be around much longer, as the weather is expected to return to a more normal, warm weather pattern in the coming weeks, Benjamin said.
“Expect the rest of the summer to be around the mid-80s,” he said. “But it’s nothing drastic one way or another.”
Average temperatures for August and September range between 82 and 84 degrees, with a couple weeks that usually range in the high 80s to low 90s as summer comes to an end, he said.
Itson said firefighters are gearing up for warmer temps, but San Benito County residents don’t have too much cause for concern because most wildland fires are caused by people, and the county isn’t very populated.
“It’s coming, it always does every year,” he said. “But a lot of people have lived here a long time and they understand the conditions and know what they’re doing.”
Although the heat increases the possibility for fires, it doesn’t necessarily mean hotter weather will spark more fires, he said.
All it means is that people need to be even more aware and keep a close eye on their outside activities, he said.
“We’re hoping for the best and preparing for the worst,” Itson said. “We just move around and augment the staff as we see the need.”
To help keep large fires from starting, burn piles are banned until December 1, and CDF asks people to be careful with barbecue pits and camp fires.
Anyone with questions concerning fire preventive measures during fire season can contact the San Benito County CDF station at (831) 637-4475, or pick up a brochure at the station, located at 1979 Fairview Rd.
