CAL FIRE TUOLUMNE–CALAVERAS
ANNOUNCES 2013 FIRE SEASON
San Andreas –With this year’s dry conditions the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE),
Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) transitioned into fire season on May 1st,
much earlier than normal. CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit
incorporates the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) in Tuolumne
County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San
Joaquin County. The 2013 fire season also comes with new leadership.
On May 1, 2013, Josh White was appointed to the TCU Unit Chief
position. Former TCU Unit Chief, Brian Kirk, retired
in March 2013. Chief White began his career in 1988 as a Firefighter
I. Since then he has worked a variety of assignments including State
and County fire stations, Conservation Camps, Fire Prevention, Civil
Cost Recovery, Law Enforcement, Safety, Research
and Development as well as served on various working groups and
cadres. Chief White has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.
The
transition into fire season means CAL FIRE begins opening and staffing
its seasonal fire stations on a 24-hour basis to help protect
California’s wildlands. The Columbia Air Base is also open and staffed
with a helicopter. Unit Chief Josh White reminds members of the
community “Burn permits are required and burning is restricted to the
hours of 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.
on permissive burn days.”
Community members are encouraged to continue working on their
defensible space. Work that involves the use of gas or electric powered
equipment should be done before 10 a.m., prior to the heat of the day and lower humidity. Weather conditions will continue
to be monitored on a daily basis and when necessary, burning will be suspended.
Chief
White encourages alternatives to burning by recycling, composting or
chipping your defensible space debris. Each year there
is a potential for devastating fires which could have been prevented.
Is your home ready for wildfire? By protecting your home, you protect
your neighbors’ home as well as the community we live in. Visit us at
www.readyforwildfire.org for tips on how to make your home safe this fire season.
For wildfire incident information in your area visit our website at
www.fire.ca.gov .
