Firefighters brace for destructive wildfire season as amount of fires skyrockets compared to 2020

Around this time last year there were 1,988 fires reported in the state of California, which burned roughly 3,611 acres, according to Cal Fire. That number has skyrocketed in 2021 to 2,878 fires which has already covered 16,800 acres between the months of January and May.

One of the latest fires to erupt is the Coyote Fire, which broke out Wednesday evening in the area of Old Banning Idyllwild Road south of Shirleon Drive. As of Thursday evening Cal Fire said the fire was 90 percent contained and had burned 43 acres.

"Any time we get higher temperatures or winds or lower humidity we’re going to have fires take off no matter what," said Riverside County Fire spokesperson, Richard Cordova.

Despite the Coyote Fire being nearly completely contained, it offered a preview of what is to come in what officials believe will be a very destructive wildfire season.

"We kept an eye on it; Just trying to pay attention to see if it was going to come all the way or not," said Banning resident, Benji Schicke.

Schicke lives down the mountain. The fire didn't come close this time, but there's still cause for concern.

"We’ve had fires come close all the way to the base of the mountain which was maybe 600 yards from the house. I loaded my car, important items. We weren’t evacuated but still very scary," Schicke said.

"We actually have been ramping up earlier this year. Fire season is year round," said Cordova.

Cordova said the state allowed them to hire on new firefighters and acquire a new aircraft that can drop 1,000 gallons of water.

A majority of wildfires is caused by humans, making it that much more important for residents to create a defensible space around their homes and not use high-powered electric equipment in the heat of the day, according to Cordova.

The cause of the Coyote Fire is still under investigation.