Private Firefighting: 2009 fire season

As North County Times informs:
After the recent soaking, San Diego County's 2009 fire season appears to have fizzled without ever really igniting.
Of course, fire officials no longer define a "fire season" in a state that has seen devastating wildfires erupt year-round, but a particularly fire-prone time of year has come and gone without any widespread destruction to San Diego County.
Because of the decreased likelihood of wildfire until next year, state firefighters have reduced staffing. San Diego Gas & Electric has called off the private firefighters it hired to put out any fires the company's equipment might spark.
It's hard to pinpoint why something didn't happen, but a lack of prolonged Santa Ana winds this year was one key to avoiding a widespread fire, officials said.
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