Arizona may be seeing wildfire weather earlier than normal this year.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jessica Nolte said dry storm systems are usually seen at the beginning of the state’s wildfire season.
“These dry storm systems that come through that kick up the winds dry out those grasses and those brushes and it just takes a spark to maybe get a little bit of a fire going and then those winds can just whip it and can run with it,” said Nolte.
Nolte said motorists need to be aware of how easy it is to spark a fire. She said a cigarette tossed out a vehicle window or a chain dragging from a vehicle and causing a spark are more than enough.
Last year’s largest fire, the Slide Fire, south of Flagstaff, scorched some 21,000 acres of land and cost more than $8 million dollars to put out.