CDF Declares Official End To Fire Season

By Bill Johnson Published Nov 7, 2005 09:40 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 02:32 pm

San Andreas, CA — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has officially declared an end to the 2005 fire season in its Tuolumne and Calaveras units.

The declaration comes after recent rainfall and cooler temperatures that have brought an end to the summer drought.

Officials say the end of fire season means that seasonal staff has been laid off and aircraft at the Columbia air attack base are now un-staffed.

The Sonora, Twain Harte and Blanchard CDF stations will remain open under contract with the Tuolumne County Fire Department.

Officials say burn permits will no longer be required by CDF until May 1st of next year. Burning is only allowed on permissive burn days as declared by the Air Pollution Control District.

A CDF report indicates that this year´s fire season was very mild, with 474 local calls and a total of 1160 acres burned with $2.3 million in damage. That compares to nearly 8000 acres burned last year with more than $10 million in damage.