What does it mean when Cal Fire opes/closes fire season.

What does it mean when CAL FIRE opens/closes fire season - changes preparedness levels?

The declaration of fire season in California is actually a change in preparedness levels for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. CAL FIRE is year-round fire and emergency response Department. When weather patterns in an area of the state become warm and dry, and vegetation (fuels) are at a low moisture content point, Emergency response dispatch levels are typically increased, facilities are staffed 24 hours a day and additional firefighters are hired.

 CAL FIRE airtankers and air attack planes are deployed from their maintenance location in Sacramento to strategic positions around the state. Restrictions and suspensions of burn permits are also likely to take effect during fire season in areas where extreme fire conditions exist.

When cooling weather, rain and snow are sufficient to reduce the fire threat, CAL FIRE then reduces its preparedness levels by releasing additional firefighters, closing some stations, and repositioning aircraft.

Preparedness levels can change depending upon weather patterns any time throughout the year. Typically they begin to increase earliest and remain in effect the longest in the south state as the warm, dry weather patterns can last from May to January in that region.

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Top FAQs on Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Questions about fire hazard severity zones

What is a “Fire Hazard Severity Zone,” or FHSZ?
Answer: California law requires CAL FIRE to identify areas based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail there. These areas, or “zones,” are based on factors such as fuel (material that can burn), slope and fire weather. There are three zones, based on increasing fire hazard…medium, high and very high.

 

How is a FHSZ determined?
Answer: Using the latest fire science, CAL FIRE has developed and field tested a model that serves as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluates property using characteristics that affect the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel, flame length, blowing embers, terrain, weather and the likelihood of buildings igniting.

 

What does FHSZ measure?
Answer: Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk”. They are like flood zone maps. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood that an area will burn over a 30 to 50-year period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, including any modifications such as defensible space, irrigation and sprinklers, and ignition resistant building construction.

How have the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps changed?
Answer: Statewide, the acreage designated as very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones is reduced by 25 percent, the acreage designated as high Fire Hazard Severity Zones is increased by 57 percent, and the acreage designated as moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones is increased by 33 percent. For detailed information on acreage changes by county, visit Publications. These changes are largely due to the ability to be more precise. In the previous map version, typically a minimum 10,000-acre zone size was used resulting in large areas of land being designated based on the highest hazard level found in that entire area. Refined modeling techniques and new, more precise data describing the potential fire environment has enabled the use of 200-acre parcel sizes in many cases which makes mapping more spatially refined. In addition, improved mapping science and a thorough model allowed for more consistency in how zones are rated.

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Burn Permits!

Burn Permit Information

CAL FIRE's Burn Restrictions and Burn Permits During certain times of the year residential landscape debris burning of dead vegetation is allowed. However, homeowners should always check with their local CAL FIRE station and local air quality management agency before burning. In many area burn permits may be required. For more information on debris burning safety download an educational fact sheet. To find out if it is a permissive burn day in your area, contact your local air quality district. Contact information may be found at the State Air Resources Board website. Burn Restrictions When the weather begins to cool down and fire danger decreases, CAL FIRE will lift burn restrictions on residential debris burning. CAL FIRE's burn restrictions only apply to State Responsibility Areas (SRA). Check with your local fire station to see if CAL FIRE's burn restrictions affect you and whether a burn permit is required. When a burn restriction is in place there is absolutely no debris burning allowed. Click HERE to see how you can protect your home with Roofsaversprinklers.com

Cal Fire Fire Protection Services

Responding to all types of emergencies on a daily basis is the job done by 90 percent of the CAL FIRE workforce.

Those emergencies take the form of wildland fires, residential/commercial structure fires, automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, lost hikers, hazardous material spills on highways, train wrecks, floods, earthquakes - the list is endless.

CAL FIRE firefighters, fire engines and aircraft respond to an average of more than 5,600 wildland fires, and answer the call more than 350,000 times for other emergencies each year.

CAL FIRE crews and equipment are a familiar sight throughout the State with responsibility for the protection of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands.

In addition, they provide emergency services of all kinds within 36 of California's 58 counties through local government contracts.

The information provided on these pages depicts the challenges CAL FIRE’s dedicated, well-trained, emergency response forces face each day, and how they meet those challenges.

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