California observed its annual Wildfire Preparedness Week throughout the week of May 3 through May 9 to help raise awareness and prepare residents across the state for the coming fire season. On Monday, Governor Newsom officially kicked off the weeklong educational campaign with an official proclamation, noting that approximately one-quarter of the state’s population lives in high fire risk areas and this year’s fire season is anticipated to be high due to drier than normal conditions.
The state’s top wildfire response officials, including California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, CAL FIRE Chief Thom Porter, CalOES Director Mark Ghilarducci, CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley and USDA Forest Service Region 5 Deputy Regional Forester Tony Scardina, held a joint press conference on Monday to discuss their efforts amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to continue wildfire prevention efforts and planning for this year’s wildfire season. All noted this year’s campaign would necessarily be different due to COVID-19, and would focus on social media and traditional media outreach instead of their usual road trip around the state visiting high fire risk areas. CAL FIRE also stressed their ReadyForWildfire.org website, which has a variety of resources to help with home hardening, defensible space, and finding programs to help fund those activities for low income residents.
Chief Porter provided a more detailed update on CAL FIRE’s fire preparedness activities to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection on Wednesday. Reaffirming the Governor’s anticipated high fire potential for this summer and fall, Porter reported that CAL FIRE has hired their first wave of seasonal firefighters and has been doing remote training and in-person drills with social distancing measures following state protocols. Currently CAL FIRE has no COVID-19 cases among its ranks. Porter confirmed that he expects the agency to be fully staffed and will be staffing every engine as the state moves into the peak part of wildfire season. CAL FIRE has also continued to perform controlled burns for fire prevention purposes, and is halfway to their yearly goal for prescribed fire acreage.
RCRC continues to work with state and federal fire prevention agencies to further the goals of fuels treatment and forest health throughout RCRC member counties. The Governor’s proclamation can be viewed here.