Fire Season Has Already Started, Is Your Grow in Trouble?

Major media are reporting on the season's first wildfires which, with climate change causing a massive heat dome covering the Pacific Northwest and drought hitting California at the same time, have put the state in grave peril this year.

USA Today reports "Northern California Lava Fire Explodes to 13,300 acres, Prompting Evacuations and Threatening Marijuana Farms"

"The blaze, burning between the city of Weed and Mt. Shasta, grew from 1,446 acres on Monday to 13,300 acres Tuesday night. It's 19% contained, said Cal Fire, and about 800 firefighters are battling the blaze.

The Lava Fire is one of several fires ignited by lightning during mountain thunderstorms last Thursday. Two others, the Tennant Fire and Beswick Fire, are not nearly as large. The area had been under a red flag warning because of high wind and low humidity, as well as temperatures ranging from 100 to 110 degrees."

NOTE: As of this writing (1 pm, June 30) The Lava Fire is driven by strong winds and is now 18,000 acres, and only 19% contained with evacuation orders in place and Highway 97 closed for 30 miles between Weed and Doris.

One man was killed by police after he opened fire on them. It is believed he was either protecting or trying to get back to a cannabis grow.

According the USA Today, the subdivision [where he was killed] has been converted into a huge network of marijuana farms mostly run by Hmong and Chinese families. The county has banned large-scale marijuana cultivation but thousands of pot greenhouses have still sprung up.

As of June 28, a total of 4,152 fires have been reported by Cal Fire.

IMAGE: USA TODAY