MIXED BLESSING; SHOWERS CUT FIRE DANGER, BUT POSE THREAT TO GROWERS.Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer The May showers that fell Tuesday across a green Ventura County delayed the start of the fire season as well as commutes, but likely will help fuel summer wildfires. Although the traditional beginning of fire season is May 15, officials haven't yet decided whether that will be the official start of this year's season, said Joe Luna, an information officer for the Ventura County Fire District. ``If the rain continues, it will help keep the threat of fire down,'' Luna said. ``Our fire season will be a lot shorter, but that can be preempted by Mother Nature.'' The lush green grasses that thrive on late spring rain soon will dry out and become the flashy fuel that can easily catch fire and quickly spread. With the approach of fire season, Luna is already reminding homeowners to clear brush within 100 feet of structures. While the rain was generally good news for firefighters, it was an unwelcome development for the county's strawberry and cut-flower growers. ``There's likely to be some problems with the strawberries,'' said David Buettner, chief deputy agriculture commissioner. ``We had some pretty good downpours this morning. The heavier the downpour, the more fruit-softening you'll get.'' Botrytis Botrytis a common fungal cause of spoilage in stored meat. , a fungus similar to mold, is a constant concern for strawberry growers, but the rains, said Buettner, just add to the problem and delay the harvest. Dolores Dolores (or Delores) was a common given name (until the 1960s in the USA); it is cognate with the English word "dolorous" (meaning sorrowful) and equivalent in meaning. Taylor, a senior hydrologist hy·drol·o·gy n. The scientific study of the properties, distribution, and effects of water on the earth's surface, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere. with the county Flood Control Department, said she was surprised at how quickly the ground has shed runoff from the current storm. ``I was amazed, because it's been a while since the last rain, that there was stream response,'' Taylor said. ``So it must mean that deep down, the ground is still pretty wet.'' Public works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. officials around the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by reported no rain-related problems. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, showers pushed the 24-hour totals to 0.63 of an inch in Moorpark, 0.78 in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and 0.45 in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . Since Saturday, the latest storm has dropped at least an inch of rain on all three cities The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea on the Island of Malta, which are enclosed by the massive line of fortification created by the Knights of St John, the Cottonera Lines. . And all 19 rain stations across the county this season have recorded more than double normal rainfall amounts. Moorpark has soaked up 33.31 inches of rain this season, while Simi Valley has been drenched drench tr.v. drenched, drench·ing, drench·es 1. To wet through and through; soak. 2. To administer a large oral dose of liquid medicine to (an animal). 3. with 35.57 inches - record amounts for both cities. Thousand Oaks has received 31.68 inches of rain this season, about an inch shy of its 1983 record, according to the county Flood Control Department. The showers marked only the third time since 1955 that Thousand Oaks has received an inch or more of rain in May, Taylor said. The National Weather Service is predicting partly cloudy skies with a chance of showers today. Thursday will be partly cloudy and breezy VENTURA COUNTY RAINFALL As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, rain amounts were: CITY To Date Normal to date Storm Camarillo 33.45 12.78 0.91 El Rio 37.14 14.57 0.89 Fillmore 42.29 18.11 2.08 Moorpark 33.31 14.22 .95 Oak View 52.19 21.57 1.89 Ojai 46.30 20.68 2.07 Oxnard 35.22 14.10 .63 Piru 36.52 16.63 1.39 Port Hueneme 32.59 13.63 .64 Santa Paula 39.51 16.93 1.54 Simi Valley 35.57 13.91 1.18 Thousand Oaks 31.68 14.91 1.24 Ventura 36.69 13.92 .50 SOURCE: Ventura County Public Works Agency CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--Color) The popping of umbrellas was a familiar sight in Ventura County on Tuesday. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News (2) CHP CHP Chapter CHP Combined Heat and Power CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Turkish: Republican People's Party) CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan (OSHA) CHP Community Health Plan officers examine a car than skidded off the eastbound Ventura Freeway in Thousand Oaks. Tina Gerson/Daily News BOX: VENTURA COUNTY RAINFALL (See text) |
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