A brush fire that started in Eagle Rock triggered evacuations Sunday and provided area residents with a stark reminder that fire season is around the corner.

The upcoming fire season – which runs from about September to November – could be more catastrophic than years past, according to several fire experts.

Fires require oxygen, heat, and fuel but strong gusts from the Santa Ana winds make Southern California wildfires especially threatening.

“The Santa Ana winds definitely play a factor during fire season,” Scott McLean, a Fire Engineer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said in an interview. “So yes, the potential [for a greater fire season] is there.”

Last year, California experienced one of its worst fire seasons in history with more than 1.6 million acres burned throughout the state and an estimated $3 billion in damages, according to Cal Fire. The three largest fires in California during 2018 were the Mendocino Complex Fire, the Carr Fire, and the Camp Fire, which burned 842,110 acres combined.

“2018 was a huge year for wildfires,” said Ventura County Fire Department engineer Richard Macklin. “A lot of homes and businesses were destroyed, and you can just imagine how many people were injured during the fires.”

Fire departments across the state are using technology to better prepare for future wildfires.

“In Ventura, we are constantly training for wildfires, we are buying new fire engines and replacing our aircraft,” Macklin said. “Our new aircraft drops 1,000 gallons of water per drop compared to our older aircraft that only released 340 gallons per drop. On the days that we anticipate fires, we also upstaff our firefighters throughout the county.”

At the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, fire engineers are also preparing for any major fires that may occur.

Community News reporters are enrolled in JOUR 3910 – University Times. They produce stories about under-covered neighborhoods and small cities on the Eastside and South Los Angeles. Please email feedback, corrections and story tips to [email protected].