Fire Chief's Message

Mid-August has arrived and so has the height of Fire Season as we know it. We are under major drift smoke from the 721,298-acre Dixie Fire and the 98,149-acre Caldor Fire in El Dorado County.

As of August 22^nd, the following is a summary of resources battling 13 major fires in the state totaling 1.54 million acres, 13,225 personnel, 1,030 engines, 256 hand crews, 337 bulldozers, 344 water tenders, 87 helicopters, and numerous air tankers.

A Type III engine and a Water Tender from our district supported CAL FIRE at the River Fire outside of Colfax.

Please use our social media sites for information on planning for fire, defensible space, preparing a “Go Kit”, evacuation route planning, and situational awareness. We do social media posts when there are active fires in and around Foresthill. We also have our AM emergency radio station broadcasting important information as necessary. The radio station can be found at 1020AM. It is currently broadcasting at our maximum of 10 watts of power. The radio can also be accessed via the link on this webpage.

Link: peridot.streamguys.com:5370/MainIntroduction1020AM?fbclid=IwAR1bo2UaV4OnhlS3yn_HuNHlkOOwkN6XcL88WwLtawU9Xekt4kPx4BvYiuo

I have noticed that many of our trees are dropping needles. These needles make an excellent receptive bed of fuel for flying embers. Please take the proper precautions to remove these needles from your roofs and gutters in a safe manner. Be careful operating above ground level and on ladders.

We have already had several unplanned power outages. Be prepared! Have your fuel and make sure it is properly stored. Long lines at our gas stations at the time of the event have been occurring. Also, Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) season is near. The combination of the Fire Danger and wind “normally” begin to happen in late September and into October and beyond.

Our office is open for business Monday thru Friday. If you have business with the district, please follow social distancing practices and wear a mask. Our fire stations continue to be closed to the general public.

In closing, please utilize our Web Page (www.foresthillfire.org) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/ForesthillFire/) for timely information, tips on Defensible Space, Go Bags, and other public safety information, as we strive to make ourselves better prepared for what Mother Nature presents us.

Stay safe.

Michael Ridley, Fire Chief