With so little precipitation this year, incoming Mendocino County Fire Chief Luke Kendall says fire season no longer exists, and area residents must be vigilant year-round. Multiple burn pile fires escaped and started small wildfires in March, and Kendall points out that the forested areas are much drier in the hills around Ukiah, which normally doesn’t happen until late May. Cal Fire is posting at least one fire engine in every station by mid-May and is hiring in order to have plenty of staff, both firefighters and in support positions. Additional firefighting aircraft are being stationed across Northern California, including a modified Sikorski Fire Hawk.