Santa Clara Co. Fire Agencies Staff Up For Long Wildfire Season

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Fire agencies across Santa Clara County urged residents to prepare for a wildfire season that carries a high risk due to severe drought and a longer dry season.

In a joint news release on Wednesday, the Santa Clara County Fire Department and other local agencies said they had begun seasonal increases in staffing and resources for vegetation fires and days where there is elevated fire danger.

Vegetation impacted by drought has had “little to no opportunity to recover during the winter months and the risk of wildfires this year is high,” the agencies said.

“Every community in California is vulnerable to wildfire,” said Jake Hess, the unit chief of CalFire Santa Clara. “As we bolster our staffing and wildfire capabilities, we urge all citizens to also be ready, be prepared and be engaged.”

Officials urged residents to look into CalFire’s “Ready, Set, Go”wildfire preparedness program.

Many parts of the Bay Area were under a red flag warning earlier this week as several wildfires cropped up across Northern California.

“We must be ready and prepared,” Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee said in a tweet sharing the news release. “Last year’s fires were too close and too severe to not take this seriously.”