Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his State Fire Chief and emergency
director gave a briefing on the State’s preparation and readiness for
the current fire season. The setting was Cal Fire’s McClellan Air Tanker
Base in Sacramento.
“The last couple years brought welcome relief for California as we saw
historically low levels of wildfire,” Newsom began. “This season is
shaping up to be very active, bringing the threat of dangerous wildfire
to many parts of our state. California is ready with the world’s largest
aerial firefighting fleet and new technology that helps us fight fire
smarter – and we’re already seeing our investments pay off.”
Cal Fire Chief and Director Joe Tyler stated what many already believe,
“We are not just in a fire season but in a fire year.”
But officials stressed that the absence of a drought does not limit the
threat or danger of wildfires. As of July 13, there have been 3,737
wildfires in California, that is nearly 575 (18%) more than the same
time as last year and 83 less than the five year average through July
13.
But the 2024 fires have already burned nearly 221,540 acres. In 2023,
through July 14, only 20,131 acres had been burned and the five average
of acreage burned is slightly more than 105,000 or less than half of
this year’s burn.
Tyler noted that in the 24 hours leading up to the briefing, 44
wildfires had been reported. “These fires state in light flashy grasses
and expand to the brush and timber,” he said.
“Climate change is real. Mother Nature bats last and she bats 1.000,”
Newsom warned. “She is chemistry, biology and physics. . . If you don’t
believe science, believe your own eyes.”
Tyler and he assured the public that Cal Fire is prepared for this
year’s fires. “We’re fully staffed and have our fire engines, had crews,
bull dozers, air tankers and helicopters,” he stressed. “The new Black
Hawk helicopters are capable of night flying. The Administration has
added 20 more privately own helicopters for our exclusive use and four
fixed wing aircraft.”
“After I became Governor in 2018, I visited the Paradise Fire site,”
Newsom related. “At that time, Cal Fire had 6,700 staff. Today it is
9,700. And we’ve committed to an additional 2,400 over the next five
years.”
Nancy Ward, the State’s Director of Emergency Services, stated that her
agency has already pre-positioned equipment throughout the State in
collaboration with their mutual aid partners.
“Most of the State is in high risk and or extreme high-risk
temperatures,” she warned.
Both Tyler and Ward advised residents to use www.ready.ca.gov to find
information about emergencies, including preparation.
CAL FIRE’s redesigned website (fire.ca.gov website) now provides more
essential information, faster– including total emergency response,
wildfires, acres burned, fatalities, and structure damage. This includes
the integration of ALERT California Cameras for anyone to view, and
real-time aircraft tracking as well as comprehensive incident map of
fires over 10 acres, in real-time.
Riverside County’s emergency site can be accessed at rivcoready.org/.
“My plea to you is to please create a wildfire action plan that
addresses escape route, meeting places, animal arrangements, and a
communication plan with family and friends,” Tyler urged residents.
Both again recommended that homeowners create defensible space around
structures and make home hardening improvements to reduce the risk of a
fire in the house.
Newsom also mentioned that his administration requested funding to begin
the use of full-time monitoring of forests with the aid of artificial
intelligence. These innovations include the establishment of the
Wildfire Threat Intelligence Center, which serves as California’s
integrated hub for wildfire and weather intelligence.
The Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System to map wildfire
information in real-time. And a partnership with the Department of
Defense to use satellites for mapping wildfires. As well as the use of
drone technology while fighting fires.
