'That starts with a really aggressive, diligent, disciplined inspection department.' 'We want to do everything we can to prevent those wildfires from starting in the first place,' he says. Basically, that means because of its hilly terrain and abundant vegetation, my area is more prone to wildfires than a dense city center with little green space.Īs Hunt told me, Oakland conducts the inspections as a precaution. That's the case for my Oakland neighborhood, which is defined by the state of California as being in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Kent German/CNET Preparing for a fire inspectionĭepending on where you live, your local fire department may conduct an inspection of your property for hazards before fire season begins. A deep layer of smoke from fires in the region was the cause. No Bay Area resident who saw it will forget Orange Sky Day, Sept. And with the drought conditions that we have experienced for the last several years, they contribute to very, very severe fire weather.' 'Nowadays, we really try to impress upon residents, our own firefighters and the media that fire can start at any time. It's a threat that Michael Hunt, a spokesman for the City of Oakland Fire Department, knows well. Even when wildfires are 100 miles away, ash falls like snow and the sky can turn a sinister shade of orange. For those of us living here, it's a constant menace, particularly on dry windy days. Of the 20 most destructive fires in California history, 14 have occurred in the last six years. Fire seasons aren't just longer, they're also more ferocious. Though the West has long been prone to wildfires, record-breaking droughts and hotter weather exacerbated by climate change and population growth at the edge of urban areas are making the problem worse. All it takes is a lightning strike, malfunctioning power lines or a careless camper. 1.7 million acres have burned overall, which is roughly one million acres more than this this time last year. Out west, New Mexico alone is dealing with six uncontained fires that have burned over 500,000 acres to date. Arkansas and New Hampshire are currently dealing with wildfires.

The US fire season is here and the western states aren't the only ones feeling the effects this year.

For ios instal Forest Fire