While recent storms have moved California out of the most extreme case of drought, the badly needed rains could make for a dramatic wildfire season. The mass amount of vegetation blanketing the state will eventually become fuel.
“We anticipate sometime at the end of May things will start to kind of turn from green to brown and then, when it’s completely dead moving into the summertime, it’s ready to burn. And it’s always going to be there until it’s removed or it burns.”
That’s Isaac Sanchez with Cal Fire who says annual grasses that will continue to thrive through spring are especially concerning. He also says with rains like we’ve had officials worry it will lull communities into a false sense of security. People should be taking the steps now to prepare their properties. Later in the year, he says, it may be too late. While no one can predict what the season will bring, Sanchez says prepare for the worst and the possibility of catastrophic wildfires.
