Cal OES Prepositions Firefighting Resources, Personnel Throughout Northern California as Strong Winds Reemerge

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With extreme fire conditions forecast throughout much of Northern California, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has strategically prepositioned critical firefighting resources to include strike teams of fire engines, firefighters, hand crews, water tenders, helicopters, dispatchers and overhead staff in Sierra and Nevada counties as well as the Tahoe Basin.

The prepositioned fire resources include:

Sierra County: 2 Local Government Type 3 Engines, 1 Local Government Type 6 Engine

Nevada County: 1 Dispatcher

Tahoe Basin: 1 OES Type 1 Engine, 2 Local Government Type 3 Engines, 1 Local Government Type 5 Engine, 1 OES Type 6 Engine

A strike team includes five fire engines with 15 firefighters and a strike team leader.

The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread, strong winds through Wednesday, though no formal Red Flag Warning has been issued. 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.

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 wind event.

For more from Cal OES, visit CalOES.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @Cal_OES.