Welcome to Summer! (and soon-to-be fire season)

Wow. We have been MIA for a little while!  Hope you all haven't missed us too much ;-)

We have only just started meteorological summer and the wildfires have already started popping up here and there. Just in the past week we have dealt with at least 3 in the local area, with a couple of them a little too close for comfort to the NWS Reno office (two fires on highway 395 near the Parr exits in Reno).

Photo Courtesy of Reno Fire Department Facebook Page

So we aren't fire fighters or fuels specialists, but here at the NWS we do have to stay in tune with the fuels status so we can be ready for the fire season. Namely, if the fuels aren't ready, then we aren't issuing Red Flag Warnings. Whoa whoa whoa... what is a red flag warning? Check out this short video and it will cover the basics. So as the video stated (you should really take the time to watch it), we at the NWS have to coordinate with our local fire partners to issue Red Flag Warnings for when the fuels and weather combine to create dangerous fire weather conditions.

Although we aren't fully into fire season yet, because all the fuels aren't "ready", we are still seeing some decent fires - especially in the grasses. Thankfully, the sagebrush is still green and not quite ready to burn yet.  This will not be the case when we go into July and August because the sagebrush and grass will all be dry enough to burn at that point.

There are a few important things to remember about our behavior during these hot and dry summers to reduce the threat of wildfire. One of those things is to practice target shooting responsibly, especially during hot and dry afternoons or if there is any wind like the Washoe Zephyr.  Here are a few tips from the Bureau of Land Management in Carson City...


Here at 10 tips for safe target shooting:
  • Bring water. This may seem obvious, but shooters often forget to bring enough water to put out a fire. A five gallon bucket of water could help prevent a fire disaster.
  • Bring a shovel. Use the shovel to dig a trench around your targets before shooting. This will help ensure any fires can easily be contained.
  • Shoot at quality steel targets designed to minimize risk. Don’t shoot steel during hot, dry, and windy days.
  • Place your targets on dirt or gravel away from any vegetation.
  • Don’t shoot trash and remove your spent cartridges. Illegal trash such as couches and televisions can be a fire hazard when shot.
  • Know that all types of ammunition can start fires under the right conditions, especially steel core ammunition. Don’t use steel core ammunition, and avoid shooting in rocky areas.
  • Don’t use exploding targets.
  • Don’t smoke. You can easily start a wildfire. If you’re shooting in a dry area, make sure the cigarette butts are fully extinguished or avoid smoking.
  • Park your vehicle away from dry grass. While it may not seem like a hazard, the hot undercarriage of the vehicle can heat up the grass and cause a fire.
  • Shoot responsibly. Clean up after shooting.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
Let's all have a safe and smart summer!
For the latest weather information go to www.weather.gov/reno or search NWSReno on Facebook and Twitter. 

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