California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Authorities Extend Full Fire Alert

A full fire alert for much of Northern California has been extended several weeks past the end of the regular fire season, state officials said. The alert covers all San Francisco Bay Area counties as well as coastal counties to the Oregon border. The danger is considered the highest south of Santa Rosa, especially in Lake and Napa counties, which did not get much of the late October rains that soaked the rest of the region. The fire season traditionally runs from mid-May to mid-October. Unless new fires erupt before the winter rains begin, it will be the mildest fire season in state history for the number of acres burned. About 22,000 acres burned this year, compared to an average over the previous five years of 150,000 acres.