Recent snow, rain and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires, allowing Cal-Fire’s Lassen-Modoc Unit to transition out of peak fire season effective Monday, December 10th, 2018 at 8:00a.m. in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas Counties.
Cal-Fire 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.
Cal-Fire will also continue to monitor weather conditions closely and will 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 2018 fire season was the most destructive and most deadly fire season in the state’s history. Statewide, Cal-Fire and firefighters from many local, state and federal agencies responded to over 6,200 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned 876,167 acres. Over 22,700 structures were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and close to 100 people lost their lives.
During the cooler winter months, Cal-Fire 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 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 your local air quality district.
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 attends the fire at all times with a water source and a shovel.
For more ways to burn safely visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
