There is no relief in sight from the historic drought ravaging every corner of California, and where there’s drought, there’s fire. In the thick of winter and normally wet months, 545 fires have broken out so far this year, burning 1,142 acres. That is a staggering 330 percent increase in fires over the same Jan. 1 to Feb. 15 period last year and a 150 percent jump in burned acreage. “This is unprecedented,” said Capt. Michael Mohler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Current conditions are as severe as during the hottest summer months, and Cal Fire is bracing for the worst. It has already brought in 125 additional firefighters, who normally come on board when fire season starts in late May in the North and in June in Southern California. Facilities where firefighting aircraft are based usually close in the winter. Not this […]