FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) -
Flames 50 feet high shot into the air in the Southern California town of Acton Tuesday, starting off the state's wildfire season with a bang.
Here in the Valley, conditions are ripe for something similar.
"California has a long history of long and devastating wildfires. We can tell you the vegetation is very dry this year. We've had three months early in the winter of no rainfall, or little to no rain. And we're starting to get into the warm weather months. And so the potential is there," CAL Fire Director Ken Pimlott, said.
It's why CAL Fire officials want people to remember "ready, set, go".
Be ready by clearing a 100-foot defensible space around your home.
Be set by having a disaster plan in place if something does happen.
And go if firefighters tell you to leave your home.
Fire officials say if you haven't prepared yourself already, you're behind.
"Everybody gets busy, especially when you get nice weather. You'd rather be out recreating than doing yard work," Chief Ken Larkin, CAL Fire Fresno-Kings Unit, said.
Firefighters say 94% of fires in California are started by people. Many of them are accidental.
But now terrorists are a new concern after documents seized in the U.S. raid that killed Osama Bin Laden encourage extremists to attack Americans by setting wildfires.
"It would be my assumption that this would be the area they'd probably look at because we do have that potential here and we do have the climate that accommodates wildland fires. So yes, I guess when you're looking at targets, we're probably a pretty good one," Larkin said.
Fire officials say, regardless of who sets the fires, they're prepared.
But you can make their job easier, by doing your part too.
How much defensible space you need depends on where you live and how much acreage you have.
To learn more about protecting your home and your family, go to www.readyforwildfire.org.
