Over these past two-plus months, Las Vegas residents showed once again that protecting each other is one of our greatest strengths as a community. Our sacrifice has been nothing short of incredible: Although our city’s economy was among the hardest hit of any in the U.S., we stepped up and did the responsible thing by fully embracing social-distancing guidelines.
Now it’s time to display that same care for our neighbors to prevent another threat — wildfires.
For the second straight year, an unusually wet winter and spring have led to abundant plant growth in the valley, which is a blessing in terms of natural beauty but a curse as a fire threat. With the weather drying up, those plants shrivel and become fuel for fires.
Unfortunately, firefighters have been busy thus far during wildfire season, which started this month and runs through October. As reported by Clark County, officials have responded to 18 brush/grass fires since May 1.
With distancing guidelines being relaxed and Southern Nevadans justifiably eager to get out of the house, it’s especially important to be mindful of fire safety. A few basic precautions at home and in the outdoors can greatly reduce the risk:
• Remove dead vegetation and yard waste from around the house.
• Clear leaves, pine needles and other dry organic waste from roofs and gutters.
• Trim back shrubs and trees that have grown within close proximity to exterior walls, and cut tree branches overhanging roofs.
• Dispose of cigarette butts and other smoking materials properly. The safest method is to soak them and discard them in a trash container.
• Follow fire restrictions when outdoors, including at Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston and Lake Mead. The restrictions will be posted by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management areas in Southern Nevada, depending on the area.
• Soak and dispose of charcoal briquettes and other flammable materials properly.
• Equip all off-road vehicles with spark arrestors.
• Don’t leave fires unattended. Douse campfires with water and stir the ashes until they’re cold.
• Do not use illegal fireworks. In Clark County, only fireworks labeled “Safe and Sane” are legal, and then only from June 28 to July 4. No types of fireworks are allowed on public lands.
• Use firearms safely and responsibly. County officials say there’s been an increase this year in fires ignited by steel-core ammunition and the use of exploding targets, which are prohibited on federal land.
Amid the ongoing drought and the damaging effects of climate change, the frequency and intensity of wildfires is growing in the West. Local residents saw widespread devastation in 2013, when the massive Carpenter 1 fire at Mount Charleston burned for eight weeks, consumed 28,000 acres and cast Las Vegas in an eerie orange glow from the west. Although that fire was sparked by lightning, most wildfires are human-caused.
Fortunately, there hasn’t been a fire of that scale in the region in the seven years since, which is a credit to the region’s fire crews. By taking basic precautions, local residents can not only protect each other but can keep those firefighters out of the field and away from danger.