As of August 10, 2015, California faces an intense wildfire season, with 10,000 firefighters tirelessly combating 17 individual fires across the state. The relentless heatwave and thunderstorms in Northern California pose significant challenges, hindering containment efforts. Although there have been brief moments of relief with lower nighttime temperatures and increased humidity, the fires are only about one-quarter contained.
The threat of dry thunderstorms and lightning strikes persists, elevating the risk of further fire outbreaks. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for certain areas in California due to the potential for dry lightning and gusty winds.
Over the weekend, several thousand lightning strikes were recorded, particularly across the Sierra and Central Coast regions. These lightning strikes can smolder for hours or days before igniting wildfires, prolonging the fire danger even after the storms have passed. Everyone must report any potential blaze as soon as it is sighted to ensure swift response and containment.
CAL FIRE emphasizes the importance of extreme caution in outdoor activities to prevent wildfires. Shockingly, nearly 95 percent of all wildfires that CAL FIRE responds to are caused by human activity. As the firefighting resources are stretched thin, residents and visitors to California need to be extra vigilant and responsible in the outdoors.
To mitigate the risk of wildfires, CAL FIRE urges everyone to follow the “One Less Spark” campaign, advocating for wildfire prevention practices. Adopting responsible behavior and adhering to safety guidelines can reduce the likelihood of additional wildfires.
In these challenging times, staying informed and prepared is key. For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Together, let us work towards safeguarding our beautiful state from the devastating impact of wildfires.
