The first heat wave of the season looms amid the possibility of triple-digit heat by this weekend.

That, along with plenty of fuel in the form of dry grass and other vegetation, has firefighters on high alert.

The word from Cal Fire is that every job has been filled and every fire truck is gassed up and ready to go anywhere in California if and when they get the call.

There is no telling where and when the dozers, aircraft, and hand crews will be needed, but when the time comes, “we’ll be ready,” says Cal Fire Assistant Chief Mike Marcucci.

“Effective yesterday (Monday), Cal Fire is at peak staffing statewide,” Marcucci said. “All of our aircraft is ready to fly, the air bases are staffed, our helicopters are ready to go and all 343 engines are staffed up and in place.”

This is what firefighters are up against: Dry grass and other fuel for wildland fires are everywhere amid what is shaping up to be the first real heat wave of the summer with temperatures likely to break 100 in parts of the Bay Area.

“We follow the weather just like you do in the weather center and…when we see those triple digits, we see the activity start to pick up, and we make plans to move our resources around wherever it’s appropriate,” Marcucci said.

This map shows there are already at least 11 different fires working around the state.

Although most are in the mop-up stage, including one near Santa Clarita in Southern California, Cal Fire says last fall’s wine country fires are a reminder that firefighters aren’t the only ones who should be ready to take action.

“What we want people to know is that nobody is immune to fire,” Marcucci said. “The fires in Santa Rosa burned way into town, so we’re asking folks to make sure their gutters are clear and to clear away vegetation and give yourself a chance until we can get there.”

Full staffing is almost a month ahead of historical averages, and it was even earlier last year.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

>>MORE STORIES