A statewide drought emergency has prompted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to increase statewide staffing, according to a press release from CAL FIRE.
Unseasonably high temperatures, limited rainfall and moisture levels similar to the state’s peak fire season has resulted in extended seasonal firefighting forces in Southern California and the hiring of 125 supplemental firefighters in Northern California.
In Southern California, aircraft staffing have been kept on to allow for eight air tankers and four air tactical planes to be immediately available.