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National Forest Beefing Up Fire Crews

Santa Ana Wind Conditions Expected This Weekend

By Michael P. Neufeld
Friday, October 10, 2008

San Bernardino, CA – "As we potentially face our first Santa Ana winds of the season, we're ramping up our fire fighting resources and law enforcement patrols," San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans stated.

Wade Evans explained an additional five engines will supplement the usual 25 local Forest Service engines, totaling 30 engines on extended staffing, as well as four hotshot crews, three air tankers, two helitankers, two helicopters, an air attack plane, and additional initial attack support. An additional four single engine air tankers can be available within four hours.

The US Forest Service Air Tanker Base at San Bernardino International Airport (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

This Sunday and Monday, weather forecasts are calling for the first Santa Ana wind event of the year. In response, Southern California forests are staffing firefighters for 24 hour shifts. Twenty additional engines, 12 heavy air tankers, and six Sky Crane helitankers have been moved into the area to assist with initial attack.

Additionally, the Forest Service has requested that the Air National Guard provide two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipped C-130 aircraft to assist with potential firefighting needs.

Fire Danger Very High (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

"We have already had a long and difficult fire season in Northern California this year," said Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Randy Moore, "but as the fire season transitions into Southern California we will remain alert and proactively shift firefighters ahead of Santa Ana winds to improve our ability to stop wildfires before they can grow out of control."

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans. (Photo by US Forest Service.)

"San Bernardino National Forest firefighters continue doing a tremendous job taking immediate and aggressive action suppressing wildland fires on the forest," Wade Evans noted in a prepared media advisory.

Each fall in Southern California, Santa Ana winds have the potential to rapidly spread wildfires, which makes rapid response to fires extremely important. Although the US Forest Service, and partnering firefighting agencies in Southern California, are doing their part to prepare for potential wildfires this fall, it is equally important for local citizens to do their part.

Citizens can help firefighters by ensuring that their homes have defensible space and by being especially careful with open flames, sparks, and other heat sources. Additionally, citizens living near the wildland-urban interface should keep an eye out for arson and report suspicious activity immediately by dialing 911.