California bracing for the worst as fires burn vastly more acres than last year

CalFire has staffed up and more firefighting planes and firefighters are on the way, but the public must remain aware, vigilant and extremely careful.

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
Gov. Gavin Newsom at a wildfire briefing Wednesday

Despite unprecedented preparations, full reservoirs and lightning fast response by firefighters, this year's fire season is outpacing recent years.

Preventing disaster will require all hands on deck, including a vigilant public.

That was the main thrust of an hour-long press conference this morning in Sacramento featuring governor Gavin Newsom along with state emergency officials.

Joe Tyler, director of CalFire said hot temperatures are adding new challenges, and despite larger fires, losses have thankfully been minimal. "Though the acres are big, the fatalities at this point are zero, the structures damaged or destroyed are low, it is largely because of the heat, the drying of the fuels, and the winds that have been associated with it, that this vegetation has, has burned so rapidly," Tyler said.

Along with pleas for residents to create defensible space and properly use spark-prone power tools such as mowers and grinders,

Tyler said ordinary Californians must do their part.

"Create a wildfire action plan that addresses escape routes, meeting points, animal arrangements, and a communications plan with your family, listen to the guidance of law enforcement and our firefighters for evacuation warnings and orders," Tyler added.

Tyler said California has seen 44 new fires over the past 24 hours, and that more than 200,000 acres have burned so far this year.

That's compared to fewer than 10,000 at this point last year.

That was a point Newsom drove home. "We are already experiencing a disproportionately high number of acres burnt. Not fires started, what is significantly higher, is the number of acres burnt," the Governor said.

Newsom praised the legislature for agreeing to repeated requests to hire more firefighters. Referring to prior to 2018's Camp Fire, the deadliest in state history, "We had about 6,700 CalFire personnel in July of 2018, marked about 6,700. Today we have 9,700 CalFire personnel," Newsom added.

Newsom said the legislature has approved plans to hire another 2,400 CalFire personnel over the next five years.