California is not burning. At least not as much as it has in recent years.
Acreage burned through Sunday is down 90% compared to the average over the past five years and down 95% from last year, according to statistics from the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The stats are good news for a state that has seen terrifyingly destructive and deadly blazes the past two years, but the worst of those fires occurred in the fall.
The precipitous drop could be due to the amount of precipitation the state received during a winter of near-record snowfall and cooler-than-average temperatures — so far.
Scott McLean, a spokesman for CalFire, said the state hasn't dried out as quickly this year and the temperatures haven't been as consistently hot. Hot spells have been followed by cooler weather and winds haven't been strong.
"It's a roller coaster with temperatures this year," McLean said. "There have been very little winds so far. We're crossing all fingers and appendages."