A recent report issued through the Amador Fire Safe Council revealed some interesting statistics in terms of what causes fires in Amador County. Until recently, relatively little information was available and most fire officials based their information on past causes and statewide trends, with the assumption that the majority of blazes are caused by burning debris. Fire officials are using the new statistics to study trends from year to year and to determine the effectiveness of laws that limit potential fire starters, like fireworks. According to Cathy Koos-Brazeal of the Amador Fire Safe Council, the impetus of most local fires is divided more evenly amongst a broad set of categories. The statistics were compared between two Pine Grove fire districts, Battalions 3 and 4, for the 2006 season. While debris burning was the number one cause of fires in battalion 3’s area east of Pine Grove, it was last on the list for Battalion 4 west of Pine Grove. The causes of fire in Battalion 3’s district, in descending order, were debris burning, electrical power, equipment use, smoking, lightning, vehicles, playing with fire and miscellaneous. In Battalion 4’s area, they were vehicle, arson, equipment use, electrical power, miscellaneous, playing with fire, smoking, campfires and debris burning. These two very different sets of statistics prove that the causes of fire can vary widely even in two similar fire districts, said Koos-Brazeal. Council Chairperson Jim Simmons thinks these statistics prove a point. “Contrary to some people’s opinion, most people obey the law without law enforcement looking over their shoulders. If we were to allow fireworks in unincorporated areas, we would be increasing the risk of fireworks caused fires substantially and profiting from that increased risk,” he said. The Amador Fire Safe Council and other local agencies will continue to build upon these statistics and in turn create a better understanding of trends in Amador County.