Countywide : Forest’s Fire Season Starts 2 Weeks Early

The fire season at Los Padres National Forest has begun two weeks early because the danger of fire is the most severe in a century, officials said Tuesday.

“The forest is so dry and the threat of fire is so great, that we decided to open the fire season a little earlier this year,” said Kathy Good, a spokeswoman for the forest.

Fire season usually begins May 15.

Under the stage-one fire alert that began early Tuesday, wood-burning campfires are prohibited outside of developed campgrounds, campers must have a permit to use portable stoves outside of developed campgrounds and smoking is restricted to enclosed vehicles, Good said.

Because of severe dry conditions brought on by the four-year, statewide drought, forest officials have asked for $800,000 in emergency funds to keep 13 engine companies staffed seven days a week instead of the usual five days a week, Good said.

Officials also hope to bring the equipment and extra staff members in a month early instead of waiting until June, Good said.

Already, moisture levels in some parts of the forest have dropped to 60%, contrasted with 100% normally seen at this time of the year, Good said. Such low moisture levels usually are not recorded until July or August, she said.

Since January, there have been seven wildfires in Los Padres National Forest, including an April 13 blaze that burned 605 acres on Alamo Mountain.

“That’s the largest fire we have had that early since 1924,” Good said. “It could very well signal the beginning of the worst fire season we have had yet.”