SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – You may think a dozen atmospheric rivers and continuous scattered showers would dampen the risk of wildfire, but California fire officials are warning that may not be the case.
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Jake Hess, regional fire chief for CAL FIRE in Northern California, said the agency is running fire simulations which show the fires burning hotter due to all the new growth from the rains.
"The robust grass crop that we’re dealing with right now has created a significant fuel loading forest center for this coming fire year," Hess told KCBS Radio.
The storm damage to some forested areas could also leave more dead or dry brush in the summer months.
California is currently working to close a firefighting shortage. State Senator Mike McGuire said 1,000 new firefighters will be hired in the coming years.
"In the last eight years, CAL FIRE has expanded its ranks from 6,700 firefighters and personnel to over 11,300 coming into this fire season," he said.
California will receive a half billion dollars of federal money over the next five years for fire prevention projects.
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