San Diego

Local Fire Departments Staffing Up Ahead of Hot Start to Summer

Hot temperatures and low humidity put the region at risk over the weekend and into the next week for potential wildfires in San Diego County.

As temperatures across San Diego begin to climb and the region braces for excessive heat, local fire officials are doing the same: staffing up in case any wildfires break out. 

Hot temperatures and low humidity put the region at risk over the coming weekend and into the next week for potential wildfires in San Diego County. 

But CAL Fire crews and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) officials say they are ready for any potential fires. 

Across the county, CAL Fire has 29 engines, staffed with three firefighters each, at hand to fight any flames. In addition, there are hand crews available. 

SDFD Chief Brian Fennessy ordered five additional brush engine crews to be on hand and one additional battalion chief on duty for wildland fire responses within the city. 

The department's second helicopter, which generally starts full time on July 1, will be brought in early starting this weekend as an additional resource. 

Fennessy said he expects open space and cliff rescue helicopter responses to increase over the weekend and more people head to the beaches and mountains. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) says an excessive heat watch will be in effect for parts of San Diego County, including valleys, mountains and deserts, from Sunday morning through next Thursday evening.

Communities that will feel the heat the most include: El Cajon; Santee; La Mesa; Poway; Pine Valley; Julian; Escondido; San Marcos; Lake Arrowhead; Big Bear.

According to the NWS, the heat wave will bring temperatures between 92 to 97 degrees in the mountains, 95 to 105 degrees in local valleys and 105 to 111 degrees in the high desert.

San Diego Lifeguards say they are already fully staffed for the summer and do not plan on adding more crews this weekend. 

The heat has already had an impact on one SoCal fire: Santa Barbara County's Sherpa Fire. 

At midnight Thursday night, CAL Fire crews were dispatched to help fight the Sherp Fire, which exploded in size overnight. One strike team of engines, which includes five engines with three firefighters each and a Battalion Chief, headed to the area. Additionally, one strike team of hand crews -- one CAL Fire supervisor and two hand crews, each made up of 15 to 18 firefighters from the Department of Corrects and Rehabilitation -- were dispatched. 

More local crews could head to the Sherpa Fire if requested. 

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