Air tankers in place in Northern California

SACRAMENTO - State fire officials have started moving many of their firefighting tankers to air bases around Northern California.

That enables the tankers to more quickly respond to fires throughout the region. During the winter, they are housed at McClellan Air Park in Sacramento County for maintenance.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is preparing for another extended fire season. Spokesman Daniel Berlant says air bases have been staffed since the beginning of May in Southern California, where conditions have been dry for months.