July 2026 Newsletter
Vegetation Fires
The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District has responded to thirteen (13) vegetation fires between January 1 and June 30.
- January & February: No vegetation fires
- March: Three fires caused by burn piles
- April: Six fires caused by burn piles
- May: No vegetation fires
- June: Two fires, one caused by a UTV driven in dry grass and the other fire still under investigation
- June: Two fires, both under investigation
Month |
# of Vegetation Fires |
Cause of Fire |
|---|---|---|
January |
0 |
|
February |
0 |
|
March |
3 |
Burn Piles |
April |
6 |
Burn Piles |
May |
0 |
|
June |
2 |
|
June |
2 |
Under Investigation |
None of these fires burned large areas, threatened structures, or required evacuations. More than 95% of vegetation fires are caused by humans and most of them can be prevented. Pile burning can be done safely when conducted properly, specifically ensuring there is clearance and each pile is monitored until extinguished. We have not had a vegetation fire caused by mowing or weed eating this year.
Water Tender 6192
The District maintains and replaces apparatus to maintain our response strength and reliability. We will soon be decommissioning “Water Tender 6192.” Water Tender 6192 was donated by the Gauer Family in 1991 and is a specialized apparatus that can carry over 3,000 gallons of water to help with extinguishing fires. The amount of water it carries requires specialized training to navigate steep terrain and narrow roads. Water Tender 6192 was primarily stationed in Alexander Valley and operated by Gene Saini or Dick Dilworth for many years. More recently, Chris Munselle has been its primary operator. It has responded to many fires including our largest wildfires including the 2004 Geysers Fire, 2017 Tubbs Fire, and 2019 Kincade Fire.