Citing bountiful winter rains, fire officials Thursday forecast a “normal” wildfire season but cautioned that Southern California's green hillsides could turn combustible in time for late summer's fire-inducing Santa Ana winds.

Emerging from a meeting of federal, state and local fire bosses, L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby said the lush winter growth had already spawned 400 more fire starts than at this time last year and warned “we have to brace ourselves” for late-season fires.

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