CAL FIRE chief deems 2021 season 'successful'

The Placer County Board of Supervisors received a review of the 2021 fire season during its Nov. 9 meeting. CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Chief Brian Estes described the 2021 season as "tremendous" but noted, "... But really, I think a very successful fire season in our mission in the protection of life, property and resources across our county compared to some of the disastrous and the magnitude of the incidents we saw across the state. … I think we had some tremendous successes this year." According to Estes, Placer experienced more than 200 wildland fire starts and 4,876 acres burned in comparison to the five-year average of 4,265 acres. There were also 210 structures and outbuildings destroyed, with the majority being a result of the River Fire. According to the staff report, 98 percent of the wildland fires in Placer County were stopped at 10 acres or fewer. Estes confirmed fuel reduction efforts also played a part in the successes for the fire season. "I really believe our fuel reduction efforts - not just the bigger landscape fuel reduction efforts but the engagement from our community members here, the fire safe councils, the action that they have and really, their dedication to home hardening and clearing their own properties - really did make a difference this year," he said. Other reduction efforts included the completion of Phase 1 (more than 1,000 acres) of the North Fork American River Fuel Break, more than 300 acres of private lands within the Tahoe Basin being treated over the last two years and grant support for fire safe councils for private landowner fuel-reduction efforts. In looking forward to 2022, Estes said CAL FIRE will continue to ensure fuel-reduction and prevention efforts are a high priority with future development in the county and in support of the protection of communities. Other efforts include enhancing evacuation planning efforts, engaging with communities on evacuation drills and preparation, continuing the commitment to unified command with law enforcement and allied agency partners and continuing a high level of public outreach. "We are going to continue with our peak level of staffing through at least Jan. 1, 2022, and so the full scope and the full breadth of both the county and state firefighting resources are here to serve as we always are," Estes said. According to Estes, almost $4 million in CAL FIRE funding will be utilized to continue Phase 2 of the North Fork Shaded Fuel Break south to the Applegate area. Estes said the hope is to continue reduction efforts south until they meet the Auburn Shaded Fuel Break.