Fires scorch vineyard, timber and rangeland in California

Hot, dry conditions are fueling an early and unusually active wildfire season. In California, firefighters are stamping out one fire only to rush to another.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported that as of Monday, 38 new wildfires were burning in Northern California, 13 of them large and uncontained. In Southern California, there were 39 new fires reported during the weekend, but none was classified as large at that time.

Federal fire officials say the 2012 fire season is starting as one of the worst in U.S. history. In California, state officials reported wildfires threaten thousands of homes and more than 7,000 firefighters were working to contain the threat.

In Lake County, the Wye Fire burned nearly 8,000 acres before being contained last week. Lake County Farm Bureau President Craig Shannon and Executive Director Claudia Street surveyed fire damage last weekend in agricultural areas, noting the total loss of the Hue de Laroque ranch.

"We're making calls to our local farmers and ranchers that may have been impacted by the recent fires," Street said. "We've sent out notices to our membership to find out if there are any immediate needs in the wake of the fire."

The Lake County Farm Bureau opened its offices to those who might need to use phone, fax or computer services because communications lines were damaged by the fire. The pear harvest, which is at its height, has coped with transportation issues and worker delays due to road closures.

Sabine Hue de Laroque, whose family farm was burned to the ground, said the hardest part about recovering from the total loss is that the suspected cause of the fire is arson.

In Lassen County, where more than 350,000 acres have burned with no end in sight, Willis Dow, Lassen County Farm Bureau president, said one of the most immediate impacts of the wildfires is loss of range ground. More than five bands of sheep and a herd of cattle have been moved out of harm's way.

"There are limited options when moving that much livestock," Dow said. "Other allotments are taken and hay is tight and expensive. To pull livestock off range ground dramatically adds expense."

Of great concern, Dow said, is the Rush Fire burning on the eastern side of Lassen County, which was about 45 percent contained as of Monday. It had burned more than 270,000 acres.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will have to assess rangeland and determine how long it will take to recover; in some cases, it could be up to three years before grazing is again permitted, Dow said.

Shasta and Tehama counties faced a new wildfire threat, as well. The Ponderosa Fire near Manton, Viola and Shingletown began Aug. 18 and by Monday had burned more than 15,000 acres and destroyed seven structures. More than 3,500 residences were threatened and evacuations were under way.

"Smoke and above-average temperatures in our area have created overcast and air that's icky to breathe," said Shasta County cattle rancher Henry Giacomini. "I don't think the fires will get to us, but we're definitely aware of them."

Giacomini, who is president of the Shasta County Farm Bureau, said some ranchers have been asked to move cattle and areas have been closed to recreational use.

In Mendocino County, a wildfire that started last Saturday had consumed about 6,000 acres near Covelo. That blaze, which was ignited by lightning, was burning in thick timber and rough terrain, making it hard for fire crews to respond.

The lightning-caused wildfires that had raced across thousands of back-country acres in Riverside and San Diego counties in recent weeks have been contained, after destroying at least four structures and forcing evacuations.

Autumn, with its Santa Ana winds, has traditionally been a time of extreme fire danger in Southern California. Fires burning throughout the state, however, are occurring well ahead of the usual start of fire season.

(Kate Campbell is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at kcampbell@cfbf.com.)