CAL Fire, California’s emergency response air program, is currently battling the explosive Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, which has burned 76,138 acres and was only 15% contained at press time. While that fire has destroyed 189 structures and damaged 39 other buildings, figures could have been much higher if not for the work of CAL Fire’s aerial firefighting assets and the brave pilots who fly them.
Gusty Winds Challenging Aerial Firefighters in California
Key Takeaways:
- CAL Fire is extensively deploying its aerial firefighting fleet, including a Boeing 747 Global SuperTanker, to combat the Kincade Fire in Northern California, which has burned over 76,000 acres, despite extreme "Diablo winds" hindering operations.
- Both the Kincade Fire and the Getty Fire in Southern California are being fueled by dangerous winds, with "Red Flag" and "Extreme Red Flag" warnings issued for gusts up to 80 MPH, severely impacting aerial firefighting capabilities.
- Despite the intensity of current blazes, the 2019 California wildfire season has seen significantly fewer acres burned compared to the devastating 2017 and 2018 seasons, although overall fire seasons are becoming longer and more intense due to dry vegetation and warmer temperatures.
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