Cal Fire
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – In the face of an intense Santa Ana windstorm, additional firefighting resources are deployed Wednesday throughout Riverside County for the remainder of the week.
Cal Fire released a statement Monday indicating engine and hand crews are transferring from stations in Northern California to the Inland Empire, as well as Orange, San Diego and neighboring counties.
The specific count was 45 additional engines for deployment in Southern California, along with six more hand crews.
Cal Fire stated Riverside County “will staff additional firefighting resources above normal levels, including fire engines, hand crews, bulldozers, water tenders and supervisory personnel 24/7.”
“As we experienced in Ventura County in November with the Mountain Fire, and again in December with the Franklin Fire in Malibu, wildfire is a year-round threat,” Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler said. “Please be vigilant and don’t be the cause of the next wildfire in your community.”
Tyler offered the following precautionary measures for the duration of the wildfire threat:
— don’t park vehicles in dry grass, where hot leaks can ignite the vegetation;
— when towing a trailer, “ensure chains are not dragging” on the roadway surface, causing sparks;
— make certain the household has an evacuation plan in the event of a blaze;
— have “go bags” ready and be prepared to move pets to safe shelters;
— remove “flammable items” from the immediate space around a residence, providing a minimum five-foot buffer; and
— report all suspicious activity to prevent acts of arson.
A red flag warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday, and a high wind warning is active until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service said Monday that northerly gusts could top out at 75 mph in wind-prone locations throughout the Inland Empire, with relative humidity down to 10% Tuesday to Thursday.
The region is tinder box dry, devoid of any appreciable winter rain so far this season.
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