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 deploying a substantial fleet of aerial firefighting assets, including airtankers, helicopters, and the Global SuperTanker, to combat the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County.
- Extreme "Diablo winds" have significantly hindered aerial operations on the Kincade Fire, at times grounding aircraft due to unsafe conditions.
- Despite the Kincade Fire, California's 2019 wildfire season has been significantly less severe than the previous two years, though long-term trends point to increasing fire intensity due to environmental changes.
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