In August 2016, California's Blue Cut Fire, which started in the Cajon Pass (view the California fire map above), about 13 miles northwest of San Bernardino. The area of focus was reported to be near Kenwood Avenue west of Interstate 15. It spread devastation quickly from a combination of high winds, high temperatures and low humidity in what has been noted as California’s fifth year of drought, and the area was declared a state of emergency by (then) Governor Jerry Brown.

 

By August 20, 2016, the Blue Cut Fire had burned through more than 37,020 acres. Officials of the San Bernardino National Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is known as Calfire were keen to note that "explosive fires like this were becoming more common," implying new measures are needed for safety and prevention. Actually, there are several initiatives in place addressing the need to preemptively approach fire prevention in the state of California.

 

And burning along with the Blue Cut fire, in various stages of containment, there was also the Clayton fire near Clear Lake, Chimney fire in San Luis Obispo and Rey fire in Los Padres National Forest. California has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions from late spring through autumn that can produce moderate to devastating wildfires.

 

There is also known to be a distinction between two different ecosystems: the mountain forests and the lower elevation chaparral, oak woodlands, and grasslands, and the way they contribute to the fire problem. A fuller explanation of the two ecosystems goes a long way to providing a history of the region's vegetation and how they became prone to frequent fire damage. 

 

Aside from particular ecosystems and how their conditions contribute to the start of California wildfires, the fires are made worse from strong, dry winds, known as Diablo winds in the northern part of the state and Santa Ana Winds to the south. And the California fire problem is considered to be growing more dangerous and more costly to U.S. taxpayers over time. There are a number of fire safety and prevention organizations that operate within the state that are able to able to outline the preventive measures needed to battle the growing frequency and ferocity that seem to be growing over time.

 

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF, or CAL FIRE) is the State of California's agency responsible for fire protection. It is often called the California Department of Forestry, which was the name of the department before the 1990s. CAL FIRE’s mission is to prevent fires. The department’s Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education and law enforcement. The picture at the top is linked to Cal Fire's "Prepare for Wildfire" strategy page.

 

Common projects include fire break construction and other fire fuel reduction activities that lessen the risk of wildfire to communities. It also administers the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund (SRAFPF) and Tree Mortality (TM) Grant Program has $15.75 million available for projects that focus on supporting local efforts to remove dead and dying trees that pose a threat to public health and safety and for projects that reduce the wildfire threat to habitable structures within State Responsibility Areas (SRA). Contact Cal Fire at information listed below:

 

1416 Ninth Street, PO Box 944246

Sacramento, California 94244-2460

Phone: 916-653-5123; Fax: 916-653-4171

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

http://www.fire.ca.gov/; http://calfire.ca.gov/

 

CalChiefs is a large and diverse professional association whose vision is to be the voice of the California Fire Service. California Fire Chiefs Association eight (8) professional Sections are:  Administrative Fire Services, Communications, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, Fire Mechanics, Fire Prevention Officers, Operations, Training Officers. CalChiefs Sections cover the spectrum of fire and EMS delivery and a full range of topic specific expertise. Contact information for CalChiefs follows: 

 

1851 Heritage Lane, Suite 138

Sacramento, California  95815

Phone: 916-923-9455; Fax: 916-923-9477

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

As a non-profit organization, FDAC’s primary function is to provide its members with programs, services, and classes to help the districts they serve and their personnel and representatives become more successful and effective. The mission of the Fire Districts Association of California is to provide legislative advocacy, educational information, member services, and informational resources and to promote special districts that perform fire protection services. It serves its members with programs, services, and classes to help the districts they serve and their personnel and representatives become more successful and effective. An especially important function of the FDAC is to provide its members with representation and advocacy in California’s legislature. Contact details for FDAC follows:

 

700 R Street, Suite #200

Sacramento, California 95811 

Phone: 800-829-4309; 916-231-2941 Fax: 916-231-2141

Email: contact form

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________

Ecological Society of America. "History of fire and drought shapes the ecology of California, past and future." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, August 6, 2014. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140806173838.htm