2016 vegetation fire in Contra Costa County – credit: Aryn Wilson
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced the return to full responses for all grass, vegetation, and wildland fires across the District because of the early arrival of seasonal fire weather.
Full responses consist of a minimum of five firefighting apparatus and crews.
Since December 2020, such responses had been reduced to a single engine based on the lessened threat during winter months.
A significant contributor to early arrival of fire weather is the current season rain total of 35% – 40% of the historically normal amount for this date.
Due to lack of moisture, grass and new brush growth has been stunted, but the fuels that are present across the District are uncharacteristically dry for this point in the season.
“Fire weather is once again upon us, earlier than in recent years, and seemingly more dangerous with fire behaviors normally not seen until July and August,” said Fire Chief Lewis T. Broschard III, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “I urge all residents to prepare for the possibility of wildfires now by practicing weed abatement and defensible space creation and reviewing plans for evacuation, should it become necessary.”
“Owner preparation of properties is the single most effective thing that can be done to save homes and businesses ahead of possible wildfires,” said Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Bachman, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “Investment in fire safe preparation today can buy the time tomorrow for firefighters to arrive and protect structures from wildfire loss. The owner who abates weeds and creates defensible space can truly make a difference, which early season fires have already demonstrated.”
Detailed information on protecting homes and businesses from wildfire dangers, including weed abatement deadlines and preparing now for the possibility of evacuation can be found on the District’s website at www.cccfpd.org.
In addition to increasing response levels for all grass, vegetation and wildland fires, Con Fire is also adjusting staffing levels, including doubling to two its Crew 12 fire control worker teams, allowing for seven-day-per-week availability. Other changes include plans for up-staffing additional wildland fire engines and crews, addition of new Type 6 wildland fire engines and a new fire dozer to the fleet, and the availability since late last year of aerial firefighting capability provided by Con Air 1.
4 comments
They have the right idea with aerial bombardment but helicopters are not going to get it done. Way too small and too slow. You would need a ton of them. I told them but they didn’t listen so get ready for repeats of the last few years.
well first off
doesnt take a genius
to watch the reported fires last year all along highway 4 corridor
from antioch all the way to martinez repeatedly
at or near underpasses frequented by dem beloved bum camps
yes some of these bums can be fire bugs
as a matter of fact they caught one lady last year who was responsible for burning her motor home over her cheating boyfriend then linked to 3 other fires along the corridor
Most fires that occur in this county are bum fires. That comes from a firefighter friend of mind who works in this County. Of course the politicians will blame it on climate change. So it is our fault these happen. Here is a web site to see how much the U.S. contributes to bad air quality, check it out. Ventusky.
A well-off acquaintance of mine has a beautiful house in the hills of Poway in SoCal. The homes are a fair distance apart with a small buffer zone for fire abatement abutting a much larger area of dense chaparral. The buffer zone is very small. He told the city he was going to remove a large portion of the chaparral to increase the size of the fire abatement zone and the city told him be better not or they will fine him big time. Chaparral is such a rare native growth, right?
He hired a crew anyway and they removed a large portion of the chaparral. Two years later there was a fire and every home on his side of the block burned down except his. I saw the pictures and his enlarged clear-cut saved his home.
The city still fined him.
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