California is burning 26 times less than it did in 2018. Why?

By Drew Costley

The number of acres burned in California through the beginning of August 2019 is 26 times less than the number of acres burned at the same point in 2018, according to new statistics from Cal Fire.

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One reason is that we may finally be reaping the benefits of the exceptionally wet 2016-2017 rainy season. It can take several years for the moisture to be absorbed by trees, bushes and grass, explained McLean. While the state's reservoirs have above-average water levels, the vegetation still has to catch up.

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[Scott McLean, a fire captain with Cal Fire,] said Cal Fire has been ramping up prescribed burn efforts – low intensity fires conducted in cooler months meant to reduce buildup of fuel for fires that may break out during hotter months – in reaction to the last few fire seasons. He said "people are very leery" of the tactic, but it's done to "prevent or mitigate these severe fires that we've had to live with the last couple of years."

The state government has also made it easier for prescribed burning to take place. In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on wildfires in order to expedite forest-thinning projects. Before him former Gov. Jerry Brown called for doubling the amount of forest land thinned by 2023.

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