Fire season on the way

It's no surprise that the vegetation is so wet you can squeeze water out of it thanks to a wet winter in Carson Valley.

But it won't take much wind and heat to dry that vegetation out and turn it from tender to tinder.

Cheat grass, nature's kindling, is already growing high and starting to dry out around the Valley. Set alight by lightning or human carelessness, and it can ignite larger shrubs and trees, turning a spark into a full-sized wildfire in just a few minutes.

Fortunately it should be the middle of July before fire season arrives, giving residents who live in or near the wildland time to prepare.

Clearing dead vegetation and litter for at least 30 feet around your home can give firefighters a place from which to defend it. Clearing more space provides more leeway and provides a better chance that you're home will survive a wildfire.

Douglas County's firesafe councils provide places for homeowners to drop off cleared brush and trees.

There are other ways to improve your home's survival in a wildfire, such as converting wood-shake or shingle roofs to non-flammable alternatives, stacking fire wood away from your home, and keeping the area below decks free of combustible material.

We recommend residents living near the wildland areas visit Web sites like www.livingwithfire.com or the Nevada Fire Safe Council Web site at nvfsc.org to learn if there's a fire safe council in your neighborhood or how to form one.