CLIMATE MATTERS: Summer Fires | Climate Matters | kvoa.com - KVOA Tucson News

CLIMATE MATTERS: Summer Fires | Climate Matters | kvoa.com

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — We are now in the prime of fire season in southern Arizona and we've already seen a number start up in the past couple months.

Temperatures have already crossed over 100° this year and we will spend a lot of the next month over that number before we really get monsoon going. The El Niño pattern also isn't favorable for our fire conditions either.

If you've lived in southern Arizona for a long time you know that you need to keep brush clear around your house and to make sure any outdoor fires are put out. Firefighters will continue to stress that the most likely cause of fire this time of year is human caused.

Large fires like the Bighorn or the Aspen fire are unlikely to happen because it takes a couple years of decent rainfall along with time between fires to see one like that start up.

If we continue to see moisture levels drop in Southern Arizona in the coming years we could potentially see a longer fire season in the future in our state..

The worst thing about fire starting up this time of year is how quickly they can spread in areas like this one. And if temperatures continue to increase that will only help out with the spread of fire in the coming decades.