CalFire begins 2016 fire season early
By Vicki Gonzalez, KCRA-TV
CalFire has called in 400 seasonal firefighters, including dozens in Northern California, for an early start to the 2016 season.
“We see vegetation fires occurring even in the month of January,” CalFire Cpt. John Hotchkiss said. “So compared to years ago, those seasons where we are not having vegetation fires are getting shorter and shorter every year.”
His unit normally starts hiring seasonal firefighters in late April or May, but he was able to start six weeks early thanks to drought funding from the state.
