Monday Is Start Of Fire Season

Fire season begins officially on Monday in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.

CDF officials say all fire stations will be open and staffed. A fire Helicopter is already stationed at the Columbia Air Attack Base. Two air tankers will arrive June 16 with additional firefighters coming on-board that week as well.

Fire chief Fred McVay says there have already been 54 wildland fires in the region that have burned 22 acres.

CDF Division Chief Renny Le Roy says during this fire season we could see some bigger blazes in the region.

“As the summer progresses, things will dry-out faster and earlier in the year we´ll have the possibilities of larger fires than we normally do,” LeRoy says.

Fire officials are warning residents to use extreme care when doing any type of residential or agricultural burning. LeRoy says fire conditions are going to get worse.

“The threat of a fire starting or getting away from a burn pile is there now and will only get worse as we get further into the summer and the fuels dry out,” Le Roy warns.

Remember to have 30-feet of defensible space around your home and follow rules for safe burning. Burn permits are required during restricted burn hours of 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. on permissible burn nights.

Only mow grass and weeds in early morning hours when humidity is higher.