The Region : Increased County Brush Fire Peril Seen

Red Flag alerts indicating the danger of wild fires have already been issued by Los Angeles County Fire Department officials, who predict special problems this season. “We have some very unique problems this year and some special concerns for fighting these fires,” Capt. Gordon Pearson said. The county received less rainfall last year, and recent windy conditions have added to drought-like conditions that are conducive to very hot and uncontrolled fires. County Fire Chief John Englund will discuss the problems with the Board of Supervisors today, and Pearson said a special announcement is expected later in the week. Pearson said the official start of fire season is May 1.