By Roger H. Aylworth
Chico Enterprise-Record (California)
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — A perfect storm, one made of flames and not rain, may be brewing over the region.
An unseasonable combination of near-record high temperatures, desperately low humidity, and gusty winds are expected to hit the area today and remain into the weekend.
Janet Upton, public affairs officer for Cal Fire-Butte County, said the kind of conditions predicted for the rest of the week are more typical of what would be expected in later July or August.
The National Weather Service has issued a “fire watch” for the entire north valley.
“Record to near-record temperatures are expected on Thursday and Friday. Gusty northerly winds are expected on Wednesday,” this according to the weather service’s alert issued on Tuesday.
By late Tuesday afternoon, humidity had dropped to 11 percent and 12 percent. The low humidity is combining with very low moisture levels in wildland foliage. The combination creates conditions where a single spark can start a fires.
Upton said that already this month, there have been fires touched off by sparks from mowing operations, from a welding project, and from a grinding project.
She said people must forego such projects until and unless conditions return to more seasonably norms.
“People need to pay attention. Don’t mow lawns. Don’t think warm thoughts,” Upton warned.
The weather service underscored its level of concern by issuing a “Red Flag” warning for “critical fire weather conditions.”
The warning is effective as of 5 a.m. today and will remain in place at least into Friday. Winds are expected to be in the 15 to 30 mph range by this afternoon, with gusts to 40 mph.
Temperatures for the region are forecast to be in the low 90s today. However, through the rest of the week, highs will be at or about the century mark.
The county Fire Department has initiated a special staffing plan this week in the face of the weather conditions.
“The department has staffed two lookouts, two firefighting bulldozers and two additional fire engines due to predicted higher-than-normal temperatures, strong winds and low relative humidity,” this according to press release issued by Butte County administrative offices.
Upton said the fire retardant-dropping aircraft do not go on station at the Chico Municipal Airport until June 15. If a fire erupts that needs aerial attack, planes based elsewhere will be able to land at Chico for refueling and reloading of the retardant, she said.
In a related matter, the county is urging all citizens sign up for the “enhanced emergency notification system” that will allow the county to send warning messages to e-mail, regular landline phones, and cell phones in an emergency.
Once activated, the system can make 15,000 automated calls an hour to warn of an emergency.
With the landline phones, the system can send prerecorded notices to specific geographical areas.
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