San Andreas, CA…Recent rains and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires allowing CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit to transition out of peak fire season effective Monday, November 14th, at 8 a.m. within the State Responsibility Area of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County.

“This season has been very dynamic and I am proud of the work done by all of the firefighters in TCU,” said Unit Chief Josh White. “I am thankful for all of the help by our local, federal and state cooperators. I also have appreciation for all of our citizens who helped prevent fires and maintained the defensible space around their properties.”

As drought conditions continue to have a hold on California, CAL FIRE is maintaining staffing that meets the current threat, as well as strategically moving resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level. CAL FIRE will also continue to monitor weather conditions closely and still has the ability to increase staffing should the weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires and or any other emergencies in other areas of the State.

The 2016 fire season has been an extremely active year, even more so than in 2015. Statewide, CAL FIRE and firefighters from many local agencies battled over 5,636 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned 147,327 acres. This is over 1,170 more wildfires this year than normal. In TCU, CAL FIRE responded to 198 wildfires that charred 2,292 acres.

During the cooler winter months, CAL FIRE will be focusing efforts on the implementation of fire prevention and fuels treatment activities as guided by the State’s Strategic Fire Plan and localized Unit fire plans. These activities are aimed at reducing the impacts of large, damaging wildfires and improving overall forest health.

Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning. Before you burn, ensure it is a permissive burn day by contacting:

Calaveras County: (209) 754-6600

Tuolumne County: (209) 533-5598

San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties: (877) 429-2876

Be sure you have any and all required burn permits. During burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than four feet in diameter, provide a 10 ft. clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and ensure that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.

For more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.