“Off-Peak” Fire Season To Start Monday

Sonora, CA — CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Mike Noonan has announced the gradual closedown of the fire season will be initiated next week.

Noonan labels the action as the initiation of the “off-peak” fire season. Currently the unit has six two engine stations. That will be reduced to six one engine stations. The total number of engines will be reduced from 21 to 15.

Noonan adds that CAL FIRE officials will closely monitor the weather. The hope is that moisture will help grow the green grass which in turn lowers the potential for wildland fires.

Noonan says the initial criteria in determining the end of a season is the fire behavior potential. The primary factor is weather and wind conditions. Fuel conditions are then taken into consideration.

As for the 2007 fire season, Noonan adds that while there have been a great number of fires he is extremely thankful there have been no major wildland fires. He is also thankful for Governor Schwarzenegger´s executive order that added one firefighter to every engine. That, says Noonan, gave a tremendous lift to any unit´s initial attack capabilities.

Written by Bill Johnson