Fresh off the recent rains statewide, firefighters are warning everyone, now is the time to prepare for wildfire season.
Firefighters are asking for at least 30 foot clearing around your home and property, also known as ‘defensible space.”
Experts say it doesn’t take much for a fire to start, especially in a state that has been as dry as Arizona recently.
"We just want to make sure that we are secure from a range fire,” said John Hollingsworth, who has cleared away the space on his property.
Hollingsworth said his insurance company provided a fire assessment of his home, and suggested the clearing of vegetation around his property.
"It really gives them that buffer, that they can work in to apply water, or other things to prevent that fire from going to your home,” said Shawn Gilleland from Rural Metro Fire Department.
Firefighters across the state, along with state forestry says now is the time to act.
Summer temperatures, and the threat of lightning-caused fires really increases the danger of a fire.
"There's a lot of dry material out there, and even with our recent rains, that stuff is going to dry very quickly,” said Gilleland.
Rural Metro Fire Department took ABC15 on a tour in the North Valley, Monday.
It didn’t take long to find an example of a home in danger.
Desert shrubs and dead grass grow all the way to the home.
Firefighters say if a fire broke out, it would be difficult to defend the home from the spread of flames.
"It's a pretty aggressive job, to keep everything down. It’s intensive for about 45 days, and then it's really easy the rest of the year because nothing else will grow,” said Hollingsworth.
Hollingsworth says it take a lot of work to clear away the brush, but when it comes to saving your home, every bit of preparation is worth it.
