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Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit to begin adjusting staffing levels for the season
A total of 10 fire engines will be downstaffed on Monday, Nov. 13.
Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, or LNU, will continue to operate with 21 state engines — one at every fire station in the Unit — and staff 153 seasonal firefighters in addition to the 250-plus permanent suppression staff after that date.
“Living in California, we must understand that it’s not just a fire season, but rather a year-round vulnerability to wildfires,” said Cal Fire Unit Chief Mike Marcucci. “In our year-round fire state, we have different staffing levels that correspond to fire conditions. We are starting to experience shorter days and our fuel moisture levels are coming up, but we remain ready for the threat of wildfire on the appropriate level.”
Boggs Copter 612, the Sikorsky S70i Cal Fire Hawk based at the Boggs Mountain Helitack Base in Lake County, will be leaving the unit for the season on Nov. 13.
Operations at the Sonoma Air Attack Base will continue after that date with the use of one air tanker and one air attack plane.
The hand crew out of the Hood Mountain Fire Center in Sonoma County will also remain staffed at this time.
Cal Fire will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and maintains the ability to increase staffing should weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires or other emergencies in other areas of the state.
There have been 340 wildfires that have burned merely 657 acres in Cal Fire LNU’s jurisdiction this year.
It is the third year in a row with a significant reduction in wildfire activity, Cal Fire reported.
During the six-year fire siege the unit saw between 2015 and 2020, the fire activity averages saw 526 fires burn 172,827 acres per year.
Cal Fire said this positive trend can be attributed to several key factors, including the ongoing efforts in fuels reduction and prescribed burns along with the staffing and resources dedicated to firefighting.
The region has also seen favorable weather conditions that aided in containment efforts.
During the cooler months, Cal Fire said it will continue its aggressive fuel modification work.
Residents and neighborhoods are also encouraged to focus on much of the same to help build resilience to wildfire for their homes and communities.
To learn more about building defensible space and other protective measures you can take, please visit www.readyforwildfire.org.