The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has been working proactively to preposition dozens of fire engines, dozers, water tenders, helicopters and personnel throughout California amid weather conditions presenting severe fire risk in coastal and inland areas of the state through Thursday.
The National Weather Service indicates that gusty winds will continue through Wednesday and Thursday, including Diablo and severe Santa Ana winds that the weather service is calling a rare event. Red Flag Warnings are in place from Lake County in the north to the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Coast, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, where gusty winds and low humidity can cause new fires to start and rapidly grow in size and intensity.
To prepare, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has been working since Sunday to preposition firefighting resources in 16 California counties including San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Lake, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Colusa, Glenn, Orange and Ventura.
Prepositioned resources include:
28 OES Engines
72 Local Government Engine
16 Local Government IMT Member
6 Local Government Dozers
12 Local Government Hand Crews
14 Local Government Water Tender
2 OES Water Tender
16 Local Government Helicopters
22 Local Government Dispatchers
With critical fire weather across the state, it’s an important reminder to be prepared for wildfire any time of the year.
- Sign up for emergency alerts through your county.
- Pack a go bag.
- Talk with your family about an emergency plan.
- Know multiple routes out of your neighborhood.
CALIFORNIA FIRE AND RESCUE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM
The Cal OES Fire and Rescue Branch facilitates the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, which includes moving more than 270 fire engines from 60 local government resources across the state in support of all-risk emergency response on behalf of local, state and federal government fire organizations. Cal OES assigns local government fire agencies with fire apparatus to maintain surge capacity during day-to-day duties and major emergencies.
For more from Cal OES, visit CalOES.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @Cal_OES.