Wildfire prevention week is a reminder to be ready at the local and state levels, and that requires more resources.
Smaller grassland fires can lead to much larger fires, said Chris Dargan with Sacramento Metro Fire who spoke with us in the Anatolia neighborhood outside Rancho Cordova. “We have a lot of dry vegetation, a lot of grasslands, [and] those are very fast-moving fires,” he said. “Those are one of the most common fires we see around here.”
That’s why a new fire station is going up. Fire Station 68 will service an area where new home construction abounds. It’s one of the fastest-growing areas in the region and it’s right next to prairie and plains.
“Looking at trends—not just now, but 10, 15, 20 years down the line—this is an area that’s going to see an increase in calls for service,” Dargan said. “Not just structure fires or medical aids, but also grass fires and wildland fires.”