Wildfire Season Has Begun

Sunny, warm weather is a boon to everyone who enjoys the great outdoors, but it also increases the chances of our ever present summer peril - wildfires. Despite a wet June and moderate temperatures, fire danger conditions are developing quickly in the Reno / Tahoe region. In fact, we've already had a few small fires within the city limits that threatened some homes. When the rains stop and the humidity plummets, dry air literally sucks the water out of the ground, creating a whole region of wildfires just waiting to happen.

Many fires are started by lightning strikes from thunderstorms, which we can't do anything about. We can, however, avoid doing stupid stuff like grinding metal in a bunch of dry vegetation, building illegal campfires, shooting off fireworks, and letting kids sneak off with firemaking materials. The latter was responsible for setting one of Reno's first fires of 2010.

The best defense is an active offense. My Reno / Tahoe Wildfire Safety article has good information about preventing fires, protecting your property, and what to do if a wildfire is threatening your area.

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