It's hot out there, and that means wildfire season is in full swing. Arizona's most devastating wildfires lately have been human-caused, and that includes those caused by vehicles. With that in mind, the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends doing the following to avoid sparking a fire along an Arizona roadway:
- Avoid driving or parking your vehicle in tall grass.
- Never throw a burning cigarette out of a vehicle.
- When pulling a trailer, attach safety chains securely; loose chains can drag on the pavement and cause sparks, igniting roadside fires.
- Look behind you before driving away from fire-sensitive locations, such as areas with tall grass or campsites, to check for signs of a developing fire.
- Observe “Red Flag” fire-weather warnings. These warnings are issued when weather conditions are conducive to the easy start and rapid spread of wildfires.
- Always use a spark arrestor on internal-combustion engines.
If there is a fire and you're driving through smoke, ADOT recommends using low-beam headlights and keeping an eye out for slow-moving or parked vehicles. Increase your distance from the car in front of you, and don't rush or speed to get out of the smoke. And if you're having trouble seeing the roadway, use the right edge of the pavement of the painted edge-line stripe as a guide.
To learn more about wildfires and get updates on fires burning in Arizona (and on other emergencies in the state), visit ein.az.gov/emergency-bulletins.
Photo: The Doce Fire burns in 2013 near Prescott. | Jag Fergus