With about 130 percent more rain than average in San Benito
County this winter causing wildland grasses to flourish, more fuel
for possible fires has local firefighters preparing for the worst
and hoping for the best as fire season quickly approaches.
Hollister – With about 130 percent more rain than average in San Benito County this winter causing wildland grasses to flourish, more fuel for possible fires has local firefighters preparing for the worst and hoping for the best as fire season quickly approaches.
Two situations can increase fire hazards during the summer months – no rain that creates drier than normal grasses, or significant rainfall that results in taller and thicker grasses, according to Chief Curt Itson of the California Department of Forestry.
However, neither situation foretells whether the season will be good or bad, he said.
“We prepare for the worst fire season in history every year and hopefully that doesn’t happen,” Itson said. “This is where fire happens in the United States and we’re prepared.”
CDF and San Benito County firefighters began wildland fire training this week, but Itson said there’s no set date for the opening of fire season. Usually, fire activity starts to pick up around June or July and gets into full swing in August and September, he said.
Although the last few months have been wetter than usual, summer highs are right around the corner, said Diane Henderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey.
At the end of April, Hollister had received 18.59 inches of rain – 137 percent of normal and creeping on 1941’s record high of 22.29 inches due to a minor El Nino event in the southern hemisphere, Henderson said.
But chances of rain and cool days will come to an end beginning Friday, and taper off to nothing by the end of May, she said.
“We’re coming into summer. By July people will wonder when it’s going to rain again, and by August folks in San Benito County will be praying for rain and cooler weather,” Henderson said. “June and July will be considerably warmer and considerably drier.”
Protecting county residents and their homes this summer will be a total of 75 paid, volunteer and seasonal firefighters at the county’s four stations, said CDF Chief Jeff Row. The main Fairview Road station will be staffed with 42 paid and volunteer firefighters during the season, and the Beaver Dam and Bear Valley stations, located in southern San Benito County, are back online after being shut down for the winter months because of budget cuts. While the Antelope station, also in south county, is currently being rebuilt, Itson said it’s still staffed and operational.
As firefighters continue their annual training to be ready to go by the time fire season is at full tilt, county residents are asked to take their own precautions during the summer months.
Closely monitoring burn piles and making sure there is at least 30 feet of defensible space around a home are good preventative measures when living in the county, Itson said. While new legislation that passed in January now requires residents to clear 100 feet of defensible space from a home, Itson said this year officials will enforce 30 feet and educate people about the new 100 feet law.
Often, fires are ignited unintentionally when a burn pile gets out of control. While Hollister Fire Department personnel said burn piles are banned within the city, county residents can obtain burn permits in select areas of the county through the Department of Forestry, Row said. However, firefighters inspect the property before issuing a permit, and the majority are purchased in the winter months, he said.
And as the long days of summer approach, fire officials ask everyone to use common sense when engaging in outdoor activities. Using a lawn mower in the morning when it’s cooler and more moist and being careful with barbecue pits and camp fires are just a few ways to prevent fires.
For more information about fire prevention, contact the San Benito County CDF station at 637-4475.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
