Dry Winter A Big Concern For Fire Dangers

There should be snow in Idyllwild’s high country this time of year. Instead, the ground is dry and temperatures are up.

But you won’t hear too many locals complaining about all the sunshine.

“We’re all like ‘let’s hope it stays.’ It’s great. The warmer the better,” said Idyllwild resident Lisa Brantley

And the warm weather is good for business.

“When the sun is out the wallets are out. That’s how it’s been for us. Been really good for us this year,” said Judy Begin, owner of Idyllwild Gift Shop.

But there is concern with mountain communities around the state looking like Idyllwild instead of being covered by a blanket of snow.

The Department of Water Resources conducted its first monthly snow survey for 2012 and found the snow pack water content is just 19 percent of the average for this time of year.

The survey is used to measure California’s water supply which mostly comes from the Sierra snow pack.

Officials aren’t too worried yet — saying most reservoirs are in good shape, thanks to last year’s big snow pack.

But there is another reason to be concerned — the high fire danger.

“There’s virtually no moisture in the air. So none of the fuels are recovering with that moisture. They’re all dried out. That leads us into an extreme fire behavior model,” said Captain Mark LaMont with the Idyllwild Fire Department.

Firefighters are warning people not to let their guard down.

“I guess I should be concerned. I’m just enjoying it too much,” said Brantley.