Cal Fire officials: Fire season over

Local California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials have declared an end to the 2011 fire season, today, Nov. 7.
The end of the season signifies the time when rain and cool weather reduce the likelihood of a significant wild land fire.
Cal Fire also reduces staff levels by releasing seasonal staff.
According to Cal Fire, the San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit responded to 724 wild land and other fires within the two counties’ State Responsibility Area. All the fires were kept to less than 10 acres. Cal Fire attributes aggressive firefighting, cooperative responses from other fire agencies and residents having sufficient defensible space around their homes, business and other structures.
Unit Chief John Ferreira encourages residents to maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around their homes, even during rainy season because wind can quickly spread a fire.