Officials: Fire season starts May 12

Due to the warm weather and dry conditions, Santa Barbara County and local fire departments on Thursday declared this Monday, May 12, the beginning of fire season.

This year's fire season was announced earlier than usual, Capt. Eli Iskow said, due to the swiftly drying grass and of warm weather in the near future.

Usually fire season begins at the end of May or early June and could end anywhere from October to December, or once a few inches of rain have fallen, Iskow said.

During the off-season, county fire would send one or two brush engine companies to a vegetation fire. Once fire season is declared, four brush companies, a battalion chief, water tender, helicopter, hand crews and two bulldozers are sent to the scene of a normal, first-alarm fire.

All burning permits issued for hazard reduction in fire susceptible areas will be suspended in Santa Barbara County. A California campfire permit is required in all areas, other than campfire use sites, in Los Padres National Forest.

San Luis Obispo County has not declared fire season, but the subject has been raised and burning permits have already been suspended, according to Capt. Jane Schmitz of Cal Fire prevention and investigation.

“It looks like (fire season) may be declared this month more than next month,” Schmitz said.

Once the proclamation is made in the department, she said the state will approve air tankers and seasonal firefighters to staff extra, unmanned engines.

Both county fire departments stressed the need for a 100-foot defensible space around homes.

“It's equally if not more important to promote defensible space,” Iskow said.

He added that those homeowners who are planning an addition or modification like a new roof, windows or a deck should use fire resistant materials.

The first 30 feet from a house should be a “lean, clean and green zone” followed by a 70 foot “fuel reduction zone” to provide extra protection of firefighters, Schmitz said.

“The potential threat of fire increases every year,” Iskow said. “And the worry is over the fire that starts down the street and moves in a hurry toward homes.”

There are many easy ways residents could practice fire safety including mowing the lawn before 10 a.m. when humidity levels are lower and the chance of an errant spark decreases.

For more information on fire safety for the whole family, visit the Santa Barbara County Fire Web site at

sbcfire.com.

Sam Womack can be reached at 739-2218 or swomack@santamariatimes.com.

May 9, 2008