Dry winter weather is keeping firefighters busy around the state… Spokesman Daniel Berlant with CalFire—formerly known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection—says last month was unusual. 

 “Normally at this time of year we only see five to six acres burn statewide and we’ve already burned around 15-hundred acres so it’s definitely been a busy January already for us…” 

Berlant says there is a ban on open fires in three Northern California counties—Yuba, Nevada and Placer… He says this is a good time for Californians to prepare their yards and clear defensible space around their homes.  Fire season ended in November and December for most of the state—except for San Diego and San Bernardino counties which are among those that remain fully staffed with state firefighters.