Recent rains and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires allowing CalFire’s Lassen-Modoc Unit to transition out of peak fire season effective Monday, November 20th at 12:00am in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas Counties.
Lassen-Modoc Unit Chief Don Gordon said, “While Lassen-Modoc Unit transitions out of peak fire season, and prepares to ramp up our fuels reduction program, we would like to remind the public to be conscious of the continued threat of fires and always exercise caution when cooking, using campfires, or engaging in dooryard burning.”
CalFire will continue to maintain staffing to meet any potential threat, as well as maintaining the ability to strategically move resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level. The agency will also continue to monitor weather conditions closely and still has the ability to increase staffing should weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires or other emergencies in other areas of the state.
The 2017 fire season has been an extremely active year, even more so than in 2016. Statewide, CalFire and firefighters from many local agencies responded to over 6,000 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned nearly 505,000 acres. In the Lassen-Modoc Unit, CAL FIRE responded to approximately 125 wildfires that charred around 260 acres.
During the cooler winter months, CalFire will continue to actively focus efforts on fire prevention and fuels treatment activities as guided by the state’s Strategic Fire Plan and localized Unit fire plans. These will be done through public education, prescribed burns and various types of fuel reduction. These activities are aimed at reducing the impacts of large, damaging wildfires and improving overall forest health.
Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning. Before you burn, ensure it is a permissive burn day by contacting the local air quality district and then make sure you have any and all required burn permits.
Dooryard burn permits will no longer be required as of November 20, 2017 at 8:00am, however residents will still be held responsible for maintaining control of their fires using appropriate methods and safe burning practices.
During burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than four feet in diameter, provide a 10 ft. clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and ensure that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.
For more ways to burn safely visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
