Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday mobilized the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) and CalFire to prepare for increased wildfire potential as unseasonably hot and dry conditions are forecast for much of California this week.

Additionally, the governor directed CalOSHA to carry out the largest heat enforcement effort in its history to protect California’s workers from heat-related illness during this week’s high temperatures.

The National Weather Service has issued several “Red Flag Warnings” and “Fire Weather Watches” for parts of Northern and Southern California this week, warning residents about the increased fire potential created by hot temperatures, low humidity and off-shore winds. Winds were forecast to occur late Monday night into this morning and again tonight into Wednesday morning with gusts up to 35mph  in the passes and canyons and local gusts up to 45 mph.

As a result of the increased fire risk potential, CalEMA has coordinated with CalFire and local agencies to identify state, federal and local firefighting resources such as fire engines, water tenders, helicopters and air tankers available to be deployed from throughout the state.