In December, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire,
transitioned to “Winter Preparedness staffing levels statewide.” That essentially means fewer staff members. Why? “This adjustment aligns with a seasonal decrease in fire activity and aims to strategically optimize resources as fire risks lessen during the cooler months.”
In short, winter is supposed to bring rain to California, which dampens vegetation and limits the threat and extent of wildfires. But that’s when weather is behaving as usual—not in dangerous and unpredictable ways due to climate change, as the wildfires raging in Southern California make all too clear.