Fire Potential Extremely High in Southern California
Summer is over, but the heat is still around and with little rain expected for the next few weeks firefighters say there is a high fire potential.
“We are still in high fire season in Southern California, while the rest of the country is looking at snow and rain, cold and sleet, we are reaching the height of our fire season,” said Fire Capt. Scott Dettorre with the Ventura County Fire Department.
Intense heat, little moisture, and wind- those three ingredients are the perfect combination for an intense fire.
When fuel is dry and moisture levels are low fire can move quickly, like the Springs Fire in May 2013 that burned more than 24,000 acres in a matter of days.
Remnants of the Camarillo Springs Fire are still very visible at Cal State Channel Islands. The trees are still charred and the hillsides are barren and packed with ash.
“When fire burns this hot it has a sterilizing effect, for lack of a better term, where it kills everything. Eventually it will regrow it will rejuvenate. Mother Nature will do its work,” said Dettorre,
The little rain we received on Halloween weekend did help, but not enough to get us in the clear. The fuel moisture level in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties is considered critically low.
Firefighters said whether plants and vegetation look green or dried out, it’s been a very dry season and they are all vulnerable.
“What we don’t want the public fooled by is this little bit of green this is our native chaparral, even though green, it does carry resigns and it can burn,” said Dettorre.
