NORTH FORK – Though it’s January and one might think there are no fires in the winter, fire danger is still high throughout the mountain area. That was proven last night when a fire broke out near a home on Oak Leaf Way near North Fork.
Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Cal Fire Command Center received a report of fire burning in vegetation just off Road 221.
It was strange to see flames flaring up in the darkness as crews ran hose lays out to the fire, while also seeing their breath in the light of the engines. While temperatures are low at night, the danger of fire is still a real threat.
“People need to really be heads-up about fire right now,” says Cal Fire spokesperson Karen Guillemin. “There is just no moisture in the fuels, and having a warming fire, a campfire, whatever it is, it’s still high fire danger. This is now the driest year on record.”
The Air Pollution Control District has not been allowing debris burning of late, due to the bad air quality, says Guillemin, but Cal Fire continues to receive a lot of calls for people burning anyway.
Last night’s fire was controlled at about 1/2 acre, and firefighters returned this morning to check for hot spots and finish mopup.
The homeowners were not home at the time, and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
