CAL Fire Adds Staff As Fire Season Approaches

San Andreas, Ca — CAL Fire´s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit is preparing for an early start to Fire Season.

“We will be opening fire season very soon, although the start date has not been officially announced yet,” says Information Officer Nancy Longmore. “Fire activity has increased significantly over the past few weeks due to the drying vegetation and increased temperatures.”

74 seasonal firefighters were hired on April 28, and are in the process of completing training. The early hiring of the new staff is in addition to the 12 seasonal firefighters that were already on board.

Starting this Monday, these firefighters will staff the Unit´s 15 stations 24/7. In addition to fire engines, one water dropping helicopter, an air tactical airplane and an air tanker are in full operation at the Columbia Air Base. Also, the 10 fire crews at Baseline and the Vallecito Conservation Camps are staffed.

CAL Fire will suspend all burning within the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit effective Tuesday at 8am, and this includes burning with a permit.

Written by BJ Hansen