Declaration of the 2015 Fire Season

Kern County, CA - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Cal Fire and Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) announced an “Interagency Declaration for the 2015 Wildland Fire Season” on Friday, May 15.

Fire officials, representing all agencies, made the announcement at a press conference held at Kern County Fire Department Headquarters located at 5642 Victor Street, Bakersfield, California.

The declaration covers all lands within the following jurisdictions:

• Forest lands managed by the Sequoia National Forest located in Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties and will include the Giant Sequoia National Monument;

• Public lands managed by the BLM Bakersfield Field Office throughout Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties;

• Public and private land under the direct protection of the Kern County Fire Department;

• SRA (State Response Area) lands protected by the Kern County Fire Department.

Fire season officially begins when seasonal firefighting equipment and personnel are in place, prepared, and ready to respond.

Homeowners living in the Wildland Urban Interface are reminded to complete their defensible space by clearing hazardous dry vegetation away from their homes, outbuildings and property.

State law requires property owners to clear a minimum of 100 feet from any structure. Property clearance for fuels reduction work must be completed by June 15.

If you plan on visiting the Sequoia National Forest or BLM lands, visitors must have a California Campfire Permit in their possession for the use of wood fires, charcoal barbecues, and portable gas stoves using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel. These permits are free and can be obtained from any Forest Service, BLM or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office.

With the potential for a hot and dry summer ahead, fire officials urge the public to “Please Be Fire Safe,” when visiting our forests and public lands.

Communities need to be prepared! Wildfires can be damaging.

It’s a clear choice, “Be fire wise!”