Fire threat heightens in Southern California as temperatures warm and winds strengthen

As the summer months approach, so does the imminent threat of fire danger in Southern California. In the year 2020 alone, the state of California saw its worst fire season yet, with more than four million acres scorched up and down the state.

The three major wildfires that blew in smoke, ash and caused damage to property in and near the Coachella Valley were the El Dorado Fire, Snow Fire and Apple Fire- and yet, all three were causes by human error.

"The last significant one I was probably 16 years old, a senior in high school. Pretty much it came up to the street. We were sitting there in masks, goggles, everything because we were sitting there spraying the embers as they’re flying across the road," said Austin Jackson.

Jackson, 33, now lives in Utah but every once in a while he returns to his childhood home to visit family in Snow Creek Village- a community northwest of Palm Springs.

"The other times that it's the closest that its ever been you can tell where it is and you’re like, 'Oh the wind is going to take it the other direction,' but there’s been times where we’re like, 'Okay this might actually be it," Jackson said.

One of the worst, at least for Jackson's family, came last year. The Snow Fire ignited on September 17 after a Desert Water Agency vehicle caught fire and caused flames to spread to nearby brush. The blaze scorched 6,254 acres and came within feet of nearby homes.

"Hearing my dad say it, he’s like, 'I don’t know what’s going to happen.' And he never ever says that. That’s like the final straw. He was worried enough and I was sitting there in Utah- 'Alright whatever happens, happens,'" Jackson said.

Fortunately their home was saved along with several others in the small community. But at the same time the Snow Fire burned, so were several other fires up and down the state, including the El Dorado Fire.

As temperatures have started to rise again, and while powerful winds blow in periodically, the threat of fire danger is quickly approaching.

"We will be moving into fire season sooner this year although it’s not officially declared yet," said CalFire public information officer, Rob Roseen.

Roseen said with little rain over the winter months, there is more dry brush, which can act as fuel if a fire is sparked.

"Last year about this time in the state of California we had about 1,800 acres burned and this year we burned approximately 13,600," said Roseen.

The agency has started to staff up and added a new aircraft which holds more water to battle a blaze from above, according to Roseen.

All 3 of the nearby fires were sparked by human error.

"If you’re using gas-powered equipment, motorized equipment to try to clear those weeds around your property, try to do so in the early morning hours when it’s cooler before 10 a .m.," Roseen said.

He also advised people to use spark arrestors on gas-powered equipment.