It's starting to feel like summer already in northern Nevada.
Temperatures are ramping up, and wind gusts are ready to take any small fire and make it a big problem.
Adam Mayberry, Communications Manager for Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, urges the community to "really treat every day like a red flag warning day, because it doesn't take much breeze or wind to really push that fire."
If you are taking part in activities that could cause sparks, make sure you have a small fire extinguisher or hand tools at the ready.
During high winds, these activities should be avoided. Even things that seem harmless can have consequences, as we found out this week.
"In palomino valley, we had about a 23-acre fire that was caused by welding. So, a lot of these innocuous, innocent, activities can trigger significant wildfires."
Spending a weekend or two camping?
Make sure you pour water over an extinguished campfire and stir the coals to make sure it's out.
A campfire left unattended could have drastic consequences.
As we've reported, investigators believe that's what caused the Davis Fire back in 2024.
Richard Reich was evacuated from the Callahan Ranch area during the Davis Fire.
Because of the high risk in his area, he says he's taken steps to keep his property fire safe.
"We have put grass and [decomposed granite] around the whole house. It's on one full acre and one half of the acre is completely clear cut for fire safety reasons," Reich says.
Not kicking up sparks and creating defensible space is paramount this time of year. Mayberry sats about 85% of fires in our region are human caused.
Mayberry says the community should remember "something that Smokey Bear said over 80 years ago. Only you can prevent wildfires."
