New Fire Watch program seeks to help curb wildfire during record dry spell in California.

Over the last 12 months, Orange County has seen less than half of the normal monthly rainfall. In May of this year, we received less than 5% of normal precipitation, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Extreme drought conditions are expected to persist or intensify through the summer. These conditions have brought an earlier “fire season” to Southern California, with local fire watch groups deploying in January, March, April and May of this year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center indicates a higher probability of  warmer-than-normal conditions in Southern California through August, and above-normal wildland fire potential is predicted by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). In these conditions, watching out for suspicious or irresponsible activity becomes even more critical. Several groups — including Fire Safe Council of East Orange County Canyons, Great Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council and Rancho Mission Viejo Land Stewards — organize and deploy fire watch volunteers during Red Flag Warnings issued by NWS to help prevent wildfire. The largest of these groups is now the Orange County Fire Watch program.

Whether intentional or accidental, roadside fires are the leading cause of local wildfires.

If you take your car in for a tune-up today, you could be preventing a wildfire tomorrow. At least one California wildfire was caused by a roadside ignition over the summer, and most of the major wildfires in Orange County have been started at the side of a road.

According to Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), broken catalytic converters and dragging tow chains are the most common causes of these roadside ignitions, aside from the wildfires caused by arson. And as the Santa Ana Wind season picks up, a tiny spark from a low-hanging chain can set off a devastating blaze. 

You can help prevent wildfires by being vigilant, careful and ready during Red Flag weather.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning across Southern California, something that people in Orange County may be used to. But do you know what to do during a Red Flag Warning?

A Red Flag Warning is issued when fire weather forecasters determine that certain factors for high fire risk occur. These factors usually include high winds, warm weather, low humidity and dry vegetation. Since there is little chance of lightning in Orange County, most wildfires are human-caused, either accidentally or by arson. To help watch for suspicious or careless activity and fire starts, organizations such as Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OC Parks deploy Fire Watch programs. These programs include trained volunteers, and the program is supported by Orange County Fire Authority.

We can't predict earthquakes, but in Southern California high winds and low humidity are a clear indication of another potential disaster: wildfire. With gusts of more than 60 mph expected through Saturday, winds can rapidly turn a spark into a fast-moving wildfire.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy has deployed Fire Watch volunteers to strategic locations throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and cancelled scheduled activities through Saturday. Suspending programs is a precaution, so visitors are not in danger if a wildfire should start. For instance, the 2007 Santiago Fire started near the Augustine Staging Area in Limestone Canyon. Canceling public programs before the severe high winds during that time meant that no visitors were in the area when the fire started. 

Three things you can do to help prevent wildfires: be vigilant, be ready and be careful.

Smokey Bear is right: Only you can prevent wildfires. Even though most people think of wildfires as usually being started by arsonists, many wildfires in Southern California are caused by ordinary people. Either way, since humans cause these fires, we can also prevent them.

Without extreme wind conditions like during Red Flag Warnings, most fires are quickly contained as soon as they start. George Ewan, wildland fire defense planner for Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) estimates that 99% of the fires starting along roadsides, for example, are quickly contained with a minimum of damage and acreage burned. However, it's those few times when a spark is fanned by strong Santa Ana winds that cause the catastrophic wildfires that devastate wilderness habitats and nearby neighborhoods.