Recent California Brush Blazes Stir Fears of Early Fire Season

There are signs that the Bay Area's fire season is getting under way sooner than some of the region's state-run fire stations expected.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Santa Clara unit was anticipating the peak fire season to begin June 15.

But in the past week or so, the Morgan Hill-based unit has already responded to several blazes that have surprised firefighters with their intensity, though they were quickly contained.

''I think they raised a lot of eyebrows,'' said Battalion Chief Wiley Evans, adding that the flames reportedly towered 100 feet in one case.

''Fire season will be sooner rather than later, and for fires to burn more intensively because of all the fuel,'' Evans said.

There are other indications that fire season is upon us. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center suggests virtually the entire state may be drier and warmer than normal from now through October.

And the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, is calling for California to experience a normal to above-normal potential for fire.

The heavy to very heavy rain and snow that fell in most areas of California during the fall and winter may mean fewer, more manageable fires than last year in the 20 million acres of Sierra Nevada lands protected by the U.S. Forest Service in the state's eight national forests, said Matt Mathes of the Forest Service.

''Parts of the Pacific Crest Trail may not even open this summer because of snow,'' he said.

Most of the action this season on federal lands will be in the Pacific Northwest, he said, which remains parched.

All of winter's rain may have been good for reservoirs, but it also means more potential fuel to feed fires: taller grasses that will quickly dry out.

Rain water soaked into dead trees and plants throughout the state, which will keep moisture content high for a while. But that, too, will dry out before long.

In Southern California, where the woods are coming off years of drought, many trees have died or are dying from the ravages of beetles. These areas may spawn the worst of California's fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The Southern California fire season normally runs from early May through December, while the Northern California fire season typically runs from early June through October.

Fire officials said people who own property in areas protected by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have extra work to do.

''People should be preparing their property for the eventuality of a wildfire because in California it's a matter of when, not if,'' said Janet Marshall, a department spokeswoman.

As of Jan. 1, a new state law covering areas protected by the state requires that all fast-burning vegetation be cleared away from structures to give firefighters a 100-foot ''defensible space.'' That's 70 feet more than the old standard of 30 feet.

But CDF officials said they won't be hard-nosed about enforcing the new standard until people have had plenty of time to get the work done.

''Education is the way to go. We want to get everybody thinking 30 this year, go for 100 next year,'' said Chris Morgan, a department spokesman.

Some people who are new to the region, and unfamiliar with the area's fire history, mistakenly think they have to take out trees and clear down to bare dirt.

''It's not about creating the Sahara Desert around their home,'' Morgan said.

What they should do is mow the grass down to 6 inches or less, rake it, remove or trim overgrown bushes and trees near the house, and cart off the debris. Fire-resistant landscaping is also nice, Morgan said. A step-by-step guide for Santa Clara County residents is available online at www.sccfiresafe.org

The cities and fire districts, such as the Santa Clara County Fire Department, have their own clearance requirements. San Jose, for example, still has a 30-foot standard. Residents should check with their fire department.

Officials stress the need to do the work before 10 a.m. to minimize the chance of a mower or other piece of equipment starting a fire in the heat of the day. Finish the job the next day, if necessary.

Capt. Steve Prziborowski of the Santa Clara County Fire Department said that some people who got the work out of the way early may be caught by surprise.

''We've had rain so late that a lot of the brush that might have been cleared is growing back very fast,'' he said.