California wildfire season at ‘extreme point’ with months to go

Wildfires are nothing new in Southern California, but as the record-breaking drought stretches into its fifth year, conditions in the southern part of the state are ripe for severe wildfires.

“In the normal season, it’s (wildfires) still threatening. Put in five years of drought and it’s exponentially threatening,” said Cal Fire Capt. Lucas Spelman. Though Southern California saw some rain this year, it wasn’t enough for fuels such as dry brush and already beetle-stricken trees to recover.

“We just haven’t stopped,” Spelman said. “Starting in the beginning of the year, we’re already at the extreme point and we just can’t imagine what the end of the season’s going to look like.”