MATHER (KMJ) — Cal Fire’s chief said that the current extreme fire conditions will soon become routine. The prediction comes as the agency revealed on Wednesday that more than 32,000 people have been evacuated due to blazes burning all across the state.
“In past decades we may have seen a fire like we’re seeing now in August or September. We are routinely now seeing fires reach 100,000 acres several times in one month in July,” said
“We have a long way to go in this fire season.”
Emergency officials from @CAL_FIRE, @Cal_OES, @theCaGuard, @CHP_HQ provided a statewide briefing to @JerryBrownGov this morning regarding the 16 fires burning across California. pic.twitter.com/DjW3YhKsdo
— Chief Ken Pimlott (@CALFIRE_CHIEF) August 1, 2018
Pimlott added that his agency is prepared for the long haul, revealing that California is also receiving aid from states as far as Florida and Maine. Crews will be working to extinguish the approximately 320,000 acres still burning.
“Our goal is to keep fires small, and in coordination with not only Cal Fire but all of our local government fire departments throughout California, our federal partners the Forest Service and National Park Service, all the firefighting agencies.
“We are in a seamless movement.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
