Various Napa County locations have been drenched with 7 inches to 17-plus inches of rain since Oct. 1, but county Fire Chief Jason Martin doesn’t want residents to grow complacent about fires.
A firefighter runs past flames Oct. 1, 2020 while battling the Glass Fire in a Calistoga vineyard. Noah Berger, Associated Press
Napa County Hopes Wildfire Awareness Survives Rains
Nov 2, 2021 at 3:25pm
Martin said that he’s not expecting any massive wildfires in the wake of the storms. But there are still dried fuels that could burn in smaller fires.
“The threat has been reduced, but I want to remind everyone we still have to remain vigilant, we still have to do the defensible space…the winter months are the season we prepare for the summer season,” he said.
Plus, people will be turning on heating devices in homes amid colder, wet weather. They will be cooking for the holidays. Martin cautioned residents to take care.
“We go from wildland season into structure fire season,” he said.
Still, Napa County made it through the heart of the 2021 wildfire season without any massive wildfires. There were no repeats of the 2017 Atlas, Partrick, and Tubbs fires or 2020 Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires that burned much of the county.
Martin said the county was fortunate to have a coastal weather pattern through much of the summer.
Two water-dropping helicopters are based at Napa County Airport to help knock down wildfires early. Martin said the Cal Fire-contracted Chinook helicopter will be there until Nov. 17 and the county-contracted Black Hawk helicopter until Nov. 13.
Martin on Tuesday gave a presentation to the Napa County Board of Supervisors.
“Is fire season officially over?” Board Chairperson Alfredo Pedroza asked.
Continue reading the article from the Napa Valley Register here.