Emergency crews are preparing for California’s fire season amid a below normal rainy season so far this year.
Cal Fire crews are concerned fire risk could rise quickly with incoming dry and relative warm days.
There have been 230 wildfires across the state so far this year, according to Cal Fire. The agency last year reported more than 8,000 wildfires in California, with more than 16,500 structures destroyed.
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In the South Bay, residents along Mount Hamilton Road are no strangers to wildfires and are also preparing.
Crews in the area have also spent the last week clearing branches and shrubs from power lines.
“Because that is a high fire risk area, the crews are out there to make sure we have at least 4 feet distance between power lines and trees or any other vegetation,” PG&E spokesperson Stephanie Magallon said. “Wildfire season is year around. And our vegetation management workers are out year round as well to help protect communities from wildfires.”
PG&E is required under legal settlements to undergo audits looking into its tree clearance program after several devastating wildfires linked to their equipment. That means utility crews will be on Mount Hamilton Road until Wednesday, clearing the area around distribution lines.