Governor Jerry Brown today issued a proclamation declaring May 7-13, 2017 as “Wildfire Awareness Week” in the State of California. This comes nearly a year after the destructive and deadly Erskine Fire, which destroyed a large section of the Lake Isabella region, scorching more than 48,000 acres.
According to the Incident Information System, the Central California District had four other major wildfires last year that burned thousands of acres, including the Soda Fire, Chimney Fire, Cold Fire and Clayton Fire.
Even though Bakersfield and much of Kern County received nearly double the average amount of rain this Winter, we still have dry vegetation along with dead and dying trees which increases the chances of destructive wildfires this Summer and Fall.
Governor Brown's proclamation this morning, in part, notes that half of California's largest recorded wildfires have occurred in just the last 10 years. He urges residents to do their part to protect lives, property and the state's natural resources this upcoming fire season.
Though much of the state has actually recovered from the drought, his proclamation notes that we still have millions of dead and dying trees which are fuel to the flames of a wildfire. Back in 2015 Governor Brown declared a state of emergency to address the state's unprecedented tree death epidemic. "The Tree Mortality Task Force - comprised of over 80 state and federal agencies, local and tribal governments and utilities - has to date removed over 423,000 dead trees in high risk areas," the report says. But it's not enough.
He says residents need to get more involved. "Firefighting alone cannot protect us, and every citizen, especially those living in fire-prone areas, has an important role in preventing loss of life and property from wildfire events. This week, we should all do our part to raise public awareness of the fire season that is already upon us and take steps to protect lives, homes and families in the event of wildfires."
To learn more about the steps our mountain residents should be taking to prepare for wildfires, visit CAL FIRE's new campaign website Ready For Wildfire. That site reports that CAL FIRE will be doing 250,000 defensible space inspections due to heightened wildfire risk, and offers ways to prepare your home safely and clear dead trees from your property.
Find me online to let me know what you think about this new campaign and the proclamation of Wildfire Awareness Week: www.Facebook.com/ElainaRusk23ABC
