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AMADOR COUNTY —
With the state’s dire drought conditions, some are starting to predict that this year, California might have it’s worst wildfire season on record.

“This summer’s probably gonna be worse than ever,” CalFire Spokesperson Lynne Tolmachoff said.

Saturday, CalFire trained members of the California National Guard to fight fires above the ground. The aviation training is part of the State’s effort to prepare cooperating agencies for peak firefighting season.

“It”s a well rehearsed, well-orchestrated machine that’s been fine tuned and crafted over the years,” California National Guard Pilot Kevin Vinatieri said.

“This training this year, this time of the year is very helpful,” Tolmachoff said.

This year some CalFire units added additional fire units as early as March. The ramp up usualy occurs closer to the end of May.

CalFire said that between January and April of 2015, they have already responded to 588 fires. That is double the average amount in pre-drought years.

“So not every year we’ve had to call up the guard to help us out in our fires, but over the past four years the severe drought has kicked in…we’re ahead of the game and we’re ready to go,” Tolmachoff said.