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Officials warn of long, high‑risk fire year; update wildfire readiness, chipping program and AgPass concerns
Summary
County emergency management, CAL FIRE and partners delivered a detailed wildfire preparedness briefing that highlighted above‑average summer temperatures, increasing fuel risk, expanded aerial resources, community preparedness exercises, and privacy and participation problems with the AgPass verification program.
Emergency Management Director Jeff Duvall and partners told the Board of Supervisors that the 2025 fire year is shaping up to be longer and riskier than average and outlined county, state and utility preparedness measures.
CAL FIRE Sonoma‑Lake‑Napa Division Chief described fuel and weather indicators: while northern California had meaningful winter rainfall, variations in timing created a pulse of cured herbaceous fuels and drought indicators. The unit’s energy‑release and 1,000‑hour fuel‑moisture indices show a multi‑week lead over normal conditions and an increased window of risk for wildfire spread. Chief Nichols said the county could see both increased wind events and lightning opportunities this season.
Officials stressed expanded firefighting capacity: Cal FIRE has added aircraft and the unit will be fully staffed by mid‑June with multiple engines, crews, bulldozers and additional fixed‑wing tankers and helicopters available for immediate response. The county’s operations and mutual‑aid coordination plans were described along with new alert and warning exercises that tested cross‑county wireless emergency alerts and NOAA weather radio messages.
On vegetation management, county fire marshal staff reviewed the county chipper program (up to two two‑hour chipping sessions per parcel and neighborhood blitzes) and defensible‑space inspection (DSI) program based on the county’s chapter 13 vegetation ordinance. Staff said Measure H expands fuels crew capacity for roadside chipping; the county will continue community education and enforcement tools.
PG&E described expanded infrastructure hardening, undergrounding and an advanced power‑line safety settings program that can deenergize circuits within a tenth of a second when sensors detect hazardous conditions. Sonoma Water summarized reservoir and wholesale‑system vegetation management and emergency coordination to protect critical water assets.
The AgPass verification program update drew particular attention: as of April 25 the program had received about 750 applications and issued 423 AgPass cards but recorded 147 cancellations and 20 declines. County staff explained verification requirements and options; Sheriff Eddie Ingram warned the current implementation effectively creates a public registry of agricultural workers that is discouraging participation by some workers and employers. He said the sheriff’s office is exploring administrative protections to improve security and rebuild trust, but cautioned program participation may decline without changes.
Board members emphasized neighborhood‑level defensible‑space work, the need to protect vulnerable residents, and the importance of continuing coordination among county, state and utility partners. Officials urged residents to prepare evacuation plans, sign up for county alerts at socoemergency.org and follow home‑hardening guidance.
