Normally when San Diego gets hit with hot temperatures, it elevates the risk of wildfires. While that is still the case, according to Cal Fire, the recent bout of rain has dampened that risk to the moderate tier. “It prolongs that moisture and the fuel, so it kind of pushes back that fire poten tial,” said Cal Fire Captain Oscar Sotelo. However, that grace period is temporary as the high temperatures continue. “But once we get those changes in weather and the increased temperatures, the fuel moisture starts to come down,” said Captain Sotelo. Firefighters are always on alert, because fire season in San Diego County is year-round. However, during these periods of lower wildfire risk, Cal Fire focuses on wildfire prevention. Crews are using newer technology known as the Flailbot. “It alleviates and helps us access little tough terrain where other machinery might not make it,” said Captain Sotelo. The Flailbot was acquired by Cal Fire in 2023 by the Community Risk Reduction Bureau. The robot’s job is to get rid of heavy brush on a variety of different terrain, and create fuel breaks. “Technology like the Flailbot allows firefighters to work smarter and safer while protecting lives, property, and natural resources,” according to a news release from Cal Fire. “This tool helps us reduce wildfire risk before a fire starts.” As we inch closer to spring, Cal Fire hopes that homeowners take some of the responsibility of wildfire prevention into their own hands, by preparing a defensible space around their homes. Cal Fire’s website explains how homeowners can better protect their property in the case of a wildfire. ...read more read less