Publication Date June 13, 2016 | MyNewsLA

Drought, and no El Niño make Southland ripe for 'possible worst fire season' ever

United States
The 900-acre brush fire near Solimar Beach in Ventura County. Photo: OnScene.TV
The 900-acre brush fire near Solimar Beach in Ventura County. Photo: OnScene.TV

The continuing drought and lack of significant rain from the winter El Nino has made the region ripe for what could be one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, Southland and state fire officials warned Monday.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby said El Nino brought just enough rain to fuel the growth of grass and brush that can drive fires during the dry summer months.

“There is a significant amount of dead fuels in the region, as indicated by the fire that we had last week in Topanga, the Calabasas area,” Osby said. “We had a fire there that burned over 500 acres. We had to evacuate over 5,000 people. That fire was unprecedented in this region. Typically the fuels are not dry enough in this region until late summer or fall to have a fire there