Drought and humans combine for dangerous fire season
10 major in California, with several more in Oregon and Washington.
Some have been caused by lightning, others by people, which according to Mark Schwartz, director of the UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment, is happening more often.
The in May WERE caused by arson. Humans are also to blame for the recent in Shasta County and the in El Dorado and Amador counties when hot exhaust pipes torched dry grassland.
A campfire in the Sierra National Forest ignited the French Fire burning east of Modesto.
And after a year-long investigation, with letting a campfire get out of control, sparking the largest wildfire ever in the Sierra Nevada, the 250,000 acre Rim Fire.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE, seven of the were human caused.
With a long fire season ahead, CAL FIRE has launched an educational campaign called to help prevent human related wildfires. It covers campfire safety, equipment operation, debris burning and vehicle maintenance.
Northern and Central California are of particular concern. See the
Provided by UC Davis