California scorched, a trucker can help

Wildfires burning 100,00 acres in California. Truckers wanting to help with relief, recovery efforts are exempt from HOS rules.

Story by: Nick Austin, Director of Weather Analytics and Senior Meteorologist @ FreightWaves.com I

At least 11 wildfires continue to rage in portions of California, burning around 100,000 acres across the state. The largest fire is the Kincade Fire, which started on October 23 in the Wine Country of Sonoma County. It covers nearly 77,000 acres just north of Santa Rosa. Firefighters have been making progress, and the Kincade Fire was 45% contained as of yesterday evening, October 30, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

The next biggest is the Saddle Ridge Fire near Los Angeles. It covers 8,800 acres and has been burning since October 10, but it’s close to 100% contained. The much smaller Getty Fire, started on October 28 near I-405 (known locally as “the 405”), just west of Beverly Hills. The most recent fires – the Easy Fire to the west of Los Angeles and the Hill Fire to the east – just started yesterday, October 30.

In response to the California wildfires, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has suspended certain regulations, including hours of service and Temporary Operating Authority Registration fees, for truck drivers who want to provide direct assistance in the state.

Trucking companies hauling supplies, goods, equipment, and fuel into California, or providing other emergency assistance, are exempt from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Direct assistance ends when a truck is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services not directly supporting the emergency relief effort.

Read the full story and watch the video HERE 

FMCSA has issued a Regional Emergency Declaration for the State of California in response to widespread wildfires and extreme weather including unprecedented high winds, resulting in the immediate threat to human life and public welfare. See: https://t.co/JMR27sr0Xa pic.twitter.com/GBiZEqbxBq

— FMCSA (@FMCSA) October 29, 2019

Source and credits: freightwaves.com / Nick Austin, Director of Weather Analytics and Senior Meteorologist  /  iTrucker  / Mario Pawlowski