Common Activities Can Spark a
Wildfire
San
Andreas – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE),
Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU), is reminding all residents that fire danger
remains high across the Central Sierra and the chance of large and damaging
fires still exists even though we are in the winter months. From November
1, 2013 to January 10, 2014, TCU responded to 37 vegetation fires, three times
as many as the same period a year ago. Fuel moistures
within TCU are at levels typically see in late May to early June.
TCU Unit Chief Josh White says, “With the current dry conditions there
are many common everyday activities which may start a wildfire. We must remain vigilant to what we are doing
and how it could affect our surroundings.”
Outdoor equipment use, disposal of ashes, campfires, extinguishing a
cigarette, tow chains dragging are just a few examples of activities which may
seem common enough, but with the current dry conditions could start a wildfire.
Outdoor
equipment use: Watch for metal blades
striking rocks, do not weld near dry vegetation without proper clearance and
suppression tools available.
Ash
disposal: Make sure ashes are cool enough to remove, place ashes in a
metal container, dump ashes in a place that is clear of any vegetation, spread
the ashes out so they do not remain in a pile to smolder and check the disposal
site often.
Campfires:
Never leave campfires unattended, use the drown and stir method to
put the fire out, consider and monitor windy conditions prior to building and
while the fire is active. If conditions
are not right – don’t light!
Extinguishing
Cigarettes: Never toss cigarettes or cigarette butts outside, make sure they
are completely out and place them in proper trash receptacles.
Towing: Make sure chains are properly secured and not
dragging the ground. This could cause
sparks and lead to a wildfire.
For more
information on fire safety visit CAL
FIRE at: www.fire.ca.gov,
www.readyforwildfire.org
and www.preventwildfireca.org