CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FIRE IS PLANNING ON INCREASING ITS PRESENT STAFF AND PUTTING MORE ENGINES INTO ACTION. THIS IS DUE TO THE COUNTY’S DRIEST YEAR ON RECORD AND THE RECENT WILD FIRE IN BIG SUR. ACCORDING TO DIVISION CHIEF RICH SAMPSON, RAINFALL AVERAGES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR ARE TYPICALLY 15 INCHES. FOR THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAR, THE AVERAGE IS ONLY 2-POINT-5 INCHES. THE INCREASE IN STAFF MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE TWO CREWS IN BEN LOMOND, WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN NONE IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS RETAINING TWO INVESTIGATORS ON HAND 24/7. THE DECISION HAS ALSO BEEN MADE TO KEEP ON THE SUMMER ENGINES DESIGNED FOR ROUGH TERRAIN FIRE FIGHTING.
