Summer
’s continuing grip on the South Valley will lead to a weekend of
high fire danger.
Summer’s continuing grip on the South Valley will lead to a weekend of high fire danger.
The fog and cool temperatures of Wednesday and Thursday are expected to disappear, leaving low humidity, warm temperatures and breezy conditions, causing local fire departments to maintain extra staff and keep a wary eye on the wildlands. Because wildlands are extremely vulnerable after months of searing heat and no rain, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has issued a red flag warning that may remain in effect through Wednesday.
Morgan Hill residents should expect tonight to be breezy and clear with lows in the 50s or 60s. Saturday will be sunny and warm with temperatures reaching the low 90s, with winds from 10 to 25 miles per hour. Sunday through Wednesday expect highs in the low 90s and overnight lows in the mid 50s.
Though the official fire season normally ends by Halloween, memories of huge, damaging fires late in the season linger. Last year’s Croy/Uvas fire started on Sept. 23, and 1991’s Oakland Hills fire ignited on Oct. 19, the last day of heat for that year. In 2002, the fire season did not end until Nov. 3.
According to Chris Morgan of the CDF, based in Morgan Hill, the heat, combined with low humidity, is cause for concern.
“As of 8 o’clock this morning, we are holding our staff over,” he said Wednesday. “If you’re scheduled to go home, you’re not going home.”
The unit is hoping that humidity levels will rise by the end of the weekend, but Morgan said if it takes longer, then the staff will remain ready. Morgan said this has been a tough year for the staff.
“It’s been a very hard summer,” he said. “It’s probably been one of historical significance for this unit.”
Morgan estimated that 50,000 acres of land had burned in fires this year – most due to lightning strikes. And the unit will continue to put in long hours until the end of fire season.
“Long-term, we’re not looking at any rain in the foreseeable future, at least for a couple of weeks,” he said. “It’s just dry; it’s bone dry out there. … It’s remarkable.”
Morgan urged homeowners and others who will be visiting the dry mountain and park areas in the coming weeks to use caution.
“For heaven’s sake, please use good judgment,” he said. “They have so far …”
Elsewhere, in Southern California, five wildfires spurred on by Santa Ana winds and temperatures of more than 100 degrees, burned more than 5,600 acres and several homes from Santa Clarita south to Camp Pendleton near San Diego.
