LAKE COUNTY ? The CalFire unit serving Lake County will shed staff and equipment starting Monday because rain and cooler temperatures have reduced fire risk.
CalFire will release seasonal fire suppression employees, cut staffing of some equipment and terminate contracts for fixed-wing aircraft such as air tankers, CalFire spokesman Kevin Colburn said in a press release.
Every year the Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties CalFire unit transitions from summer staffing to winter staffing, CalFire reported. The Unit includes the State Responsibility Areas within the counties of Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Yolo, Solano and Colusa.
“The reduction in staffing and resources is indicative of a major reduction in the wild land fire danger,” Chief Ernie Loveless of CalFire said. “However, residents need to remember that even with the welcome rains, a period of dry windy conditions could dry fuels to the point where wild land fires are possible.”
CalFire is prepared to quickly “ramp up” if conditions in the unit area or elsewhere in the state dictate, the agency said.
CalFire will also lift burn ban suspension in the State Responsibility Areas. People interested in conducting dooryard burning must make sure they meet all fire and air pollution permit requirements and should check with their local fire agencies.
CalFire provides year round emergency response as the fire department for Napa County, the Town of Yountville, the South Lake Fire Protection District and The Sea Ranch, the agency reported.
CalFire also provides personnel and incident management expertise for emergencies statewide, including earthquakes and floods.
