Record high temperatures in May led to seriouswildfires near the city of San Diego. The wildfires appeared months beforeCalifornia’s fire season usually begins. This followed nearly three years oflittle rainfall, and the driest year on record last year. It left trees and other plantlife extremely dry.
Richard Cordova works for the California Department of Forestry and FireProtection, known as CAL FIRE.
“When we have higher temperatures, lower humidity, and you throw winds inthere, it’s just a recipe for extreme fire danger. And when we see those, allthose three elements come together, CAL FIRE reacts and starts movingequipment around.”
In the town of Hemet, California, a CAL FIRE air tactical unit trains to stayprepared. The training takes place at an airbase for firefighting crews.
Helicopters take the crews to wildfires, and tankers drop flame retardantchemicals from the air. The chemicals help to suppress the production of fire.
Mike Venable is a pilot who flies an air tanker for CAL FIRE. He has put outminor fires on nearby grasslands.
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A wildfire burns along the hillside on May 14, 2014, in San Marcos, California. |
“Everything from that to the challenging 12,000 to 14,000 foot (3,500 to 4,000meter) peaks, maybe up in the high Sierras or, you know, in the forests thatsurround our base here, so it’s a very big variety of flying. Some can be verydangerous, some not so dangerous.”
Pilots and firefighters keep their equipment ready. Daily meetings aboutweather conditions keep them informed about areas at risk of fire. Carefulmeasurement of fuel load and the weather help with flight planning.
Battalion Chief Travis Alexander says aircraft are deployed throughout thestate and can reach a fire in minutes. He says the planes and helicopters arethere to back up firefighting crews on the ground.
“Because the aircraft in this agency is just one of many tools. We have thehand crews, the (bull) dozers, engine companies, a variety of other assets. The air program comes in as a support function.”
At a nearby fire station, crews stay ready to fight fires in populated and ruralareas.
Pilot Max Venable says air and ground crews work to keep the fires away fromhomes and other buildings.
“If you’re able to help somebody on the ground, save a house, keep afirefighter out of a hazardous situation, that’s rewarding.”
It is a continuing effort to stay ahead of the fires. State officials say they haveadded 300 new firefighters. Thousands of others already work as firefightersin California. Their job this year is likely to be a hard one.
I’m Anna Matteo.
