While there isn’t much of a break anymore in California’s fire season, the ‘official’ start of the 2025 season arrived over the weekend, on June 1. It followed on the heels of the area’s first triple heat of the year.

“Locally it has been a very active fire season already,” explained Escalon Fire Chief Rick Mello, before the season officially began. “Even with all the rain this winter, it got dry real fast this year, we had a lot of wind so everything dried almost instantly.”

Escalon has a weed abatement program that is currently ongoing, said the chief, with notices sent to residents whose property need weeds and/or tall grass addressed.

“We always hope to wrap that program up by July 4,” Mello said.

As far as fires to date, the chef said Escalon has been on several calls, with a lot of mutual aid responses along with a few river bottom, grass and vegetation fires in their own district.

“It looks like it will be a busy season,” Mello said.

He also reminded those planning a trip on the river to be safe and use extra caution, as the river is still running very cold and flows are high due to the snowmelt.

“People continue to underestimate the water,” Mello said, with multiple river rescues already this season in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

He said parks along the river, including McHenry Rec, often have life jacket loaner programs in effect, with life jackets in a variety of sizes available for people to borrow, whether they are planning to float down the river or just splash around and want that extra measure of safety and security.

Also, the department has added former reserve firefighter Dylan Criteser to the full-time staff, replacing longtime department member David Velasco, who recently reigned his post. Criteser started his official duties with the department on May 31.

The department is also still in the midst of a search process to secure candidates for replacing former Battalion Chief Dan Morriss, who also has left the department. While the search continues for his successor, Battalion Chiefs Moe Silva and Joe Pelot are splitting his shifts.