Cal Fire warns of early fire season, schedules wildfire preparedness expo in Auburn

Eric Schwab, assistant chief with CAL FIRE Placer County Fire, told the Colfax City Council on May 28 that fire season is arriving early this year and that grass has cured up to about the 2,500-foot elevation line. Schwab said the Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit had responded to 24 vegetation fires in the prior week, the largest at about 65 acres, and briefly described aviation resources staged at Grass Valley and McClellan that can respond locally.

Schwab said burning remains permitted on many days but that suspension of open burning would be in effect over the coming triple-digit heat weekend. He urged homeowners to create defensible space and to avoid mowing in the heat of the day, noting several recent fires started during mowing. Schwab said Cal Fire has placed air-tactical resources in the region, with the first tanker and Type 2 aircraft arriving at Grass Valley imminently and more aircraft expected soon.

Schwab also announced a public wildfire preparedness expo on Saturday, June 21, at Station 10 off Bowman Way in Auburn from 8 a.m. to noon. He described the event as family-friendly and educational, with demonstrations, defensible-space inspectors, evacuation resources from the sheriff’s office and participation by local fire-safe councils and other agencies. Schwab left printed flyers at the meeting and said copies would be posted around town and on social media.