CAL FIRE Increasing Staff Due to Weekend Fire Danger

Much of Northern California is under a red-flag warning due to heightened fire danger.

Daniel Berlant with CAL FIRE says Sunday will be a particular concern with dry thunderstorms and lightening possible in the Northern, Central and Eastern Sierra Nevada.

He says people should NOT try to clear brush around their homes this weekend.

“Even though we’re always preaching defensible space, this is not the weekend to do your weed clearance and your brush clearance, "says Berlant. 

"Anytime of mowing or weed-eating of dry grass can actually spark a wildfire so don’t use power equipment outdoors if you can avoid it.”

So far this year CAL FIRE has responded to 2,100 wildfires. More than 50,000 acres have burned. Typically by this time of year CAL FIRE would have seen only about 1,100 wildfires.