The White Fire burning on Monday. (Photo: ValleyFireScan via Twitter)
May 29, 2013
On Wednesday, firefighters continue to battle wildfires in southern California "burning like it's August or September" as the drought-covered state is left a "tinderbox" following a low-moisture winter and warm, windy weather.
"It's an out-of-control wildfire so it is a threat," said Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki of the White Fire that broke out Monday afternoon and has already burned over 1800 acres. "There's a lot of dry vegetation in its path," he said.
"It's still spring--it's not even summer--and it's burning like it's August or September," said Sadecki.
In its monthly outlook issued May 1, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) warned that the region's "significant fire potential would be above normal" and would continue into June.
Contributing to that fire potential is a dry winter.
Frank Gehrke, chief surveyor for the Department of Water Resources, and the person in charge of surveying California's snowpack to see how much water will reach storage reservoirs, had a dry assessment earlier this month.
The snowpack was at only 17 percent of normal.
"I'm finding nothing. Seriously, there is no snow on the course at all," Gehrke said.
And California's "precipitation pretty much shut off at the beginning of the year," NIFC wildland fire analyst Jeremy Sullens told reporters in a phone conference.
The most recent Drought Monitor shows the entire state enveloped in some level of drought.
"Since they're not expecting a lot more precipitation for the remainder of the summer, conditions are going to worsen as we go into the hotter part of the year," warned Sullens.
______________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
On Wednesday, firefighters continue to battle wildfires in southern California "burning like it's August or September" as the drought-covered state is left a "tinderbox" following a low-moisture winter and warm, windy weather.
"It's an out-of-control wildfire so it is a threat," said Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki of the White Fire that broke out Monday afternoon and has already burned over 1800 acres. "There's a lot of dry vegetation in its path," he said.
"It's still spring--it's not even summer--and it's burning like it's August or September," said Sadecki.
In its monthly outlook issued May 1, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) warned that the region's "significant fire potential would be above normal" and would continue into June.
Contributing to that fire potential is a dry winter.
Frank Gehrke, chief surveyor for the Department of Water Resources, and the person in charge of surveying California's snowpack to see how much water will reach storage reservoirs, had a dry assessment earlier this month.
The snowpack was at only 17 percent of normal.
"I'm finding nothing. Seriously, there is no snow on the course at all," Gehrke said.
And California's "precipitation pretty much shut off at the beginning of the year," NIFC wildland fire analyst Jeremy Sullens told reporters in a phone conference.
The most recent Drought Monitor shows the entire state enveloped in some level of drought.
"Since they're not expecting a lot more precipitation for the remainder of the summer, conditions are going to worsen as we go into the hotter part of the year," warned Sullens.
______________________
On Wednesday, firefighters continue to battle wildfires in southern California "burning like it's August or September" as the drought-covered state is left a "tinderbox" following a low-moisture winter and warm, windy weather.
"It's an out-of-control wildfire so it is a threat," said Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki of the White Fire that broke out Monday afternoon and has already burned over 1800 acres. "There's a lot of dry vegetation in its path," he said.
"It's still spring--it's not even summer--and it's burning like it's August or September," said Sadecki.
In its monthly outlook issued May 1, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) warned that the region's "significant fire potential would be above normal" and would continue into June.
Contributing to that fire potential is a dry winter.
Frank Gehrke, chief surveyor for the Department of Water Resources, and the person in charge of surveying California's snowpack to see how much water will reach storage reservoirs, had a dry assessment earlier this month.
The snowpack was at only 17 percent of normal.
"I'm finding nothing. Seriously, there is no snow on the course at all," Gehrke said.
And California's "precipitation pretty much shut off at the beginning of the year," NIFC wildland fire analyst Jeremy Sullens told reporters in a phone conference.
The most recent Drought Monitor shows the entire state enveloped in some level of drought.
"Since they're not expecting a lot more precipitation for the remainder of the summer, conditions are going to worsen as we go into the hotter part of the year," warned Sullens.
______________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.