In Focus

Spring has officially arrived. The snow has melted, the temperatures are climbing, and nature is waking up. But as the landscape turns from white to brown before it greens up, that dry grass becomes the perfect fuel for wildfires. That’s right—it’s grass fire season.

With minimal moisture and last year’s vegetation dried out and brittle, it doesn’t take much for a fire to ignite and spread. Most grass fires aren’t caused by lightning or acts of nature—they’re caused by us. Whether directly or indirectly, human activity is the number one source. It could be a small garbage fire that wasn’t properly contained, a cigarette flicked out of a car window or even a discarded glass bottle that focuses sunlight like a magnifying glass. All it takes is one spark.

Wind plays a major role too. A calm breeze can suddenly shift into a gust that fans a flame into a fast-moving fire, spreading across fields, ditches and into wooded areas.

That’s why preventative maintenance is crucial this time of year. Clearing away dead vegetation, trimming overgrown grass and pruning the lower branches of trees are all great fire prevention steps—but proceed with caution.

Avoid mowing when the grass is extremely dry. A small spark from a lawn mower blade striking a rock, or a hot engine part, can easily start a blaze. Always clean debris from your mower and give it time to cool down before storing it in a garage or shed. The same goes for vehicles: driving through a dry field, hot exhaust systems, dragging trailer chains or even a loose car part scraping the pavement can all throw sparks.

Please pay close attention to burning bans and red flag warnings. These alerts are in place for a reason. Always check local weather and wind conditions before starting any burn, and never leave fires unattended. If you’re camping, ensure your campfire is completely extinguished—drown it, stir it and feel it to make sure it’s out cold.

A little extra caution goes a long way in preventing unnecessary wildfires. Your local firefighters and DNR will appreciate it.