As fire weather conditions increase in Southern California, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has strategically prepositioned critical fire resources to include strike teams of fire engines, firefighters, hand crews, water tenders, helicopters, dispatchers and overhead staff in Santa Barbara County.
The prepositioned fire resources include:
Santa Barbara County: 1 Local Government Strike Team (5 Local Government Type 3 Engines), 1 Local Government Type 1 Water Tender, 1 Local Government Type 1 Crew, 1 Dispatcher
A strike team includes five fire engines with 15 firefighters and a strike team leader.
The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread Red Flag weather conditions over parts of Santa Barbara through Tuesday. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire potential and erratic fire behavior.
Click here to see the National Weather Service’s Red Flag warnings.
The public is urged to remain aware of their surrounding conditions and to avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires and follow local fire restrictions. The public is also reminded to have an emergency plan in place, emergency preparedness kits at home and vehicles full of fuel. Sign-up for emergency alerts, listen to local authorities and warnings, and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
The Cal OES Warning Center and State Operations Center will monitor conditions and be ready for further resource requests as necessary throughout the Red Flag period.
For more from Cal OES, visit CalOES.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @Cal_OES.