Dry cheatgrass in Nevada poses wildfire danger
By Associated Press
A wet winter has produced a bumper crop of cheatgrass that fire officials in Northern Nevada expect will dry out and become prime fuel for the smallest of sparks during a hot, dry wildfire season ahead.
Battalion Chief Larry Goss of the East Fork Fire District said that the potential exists this summer for large, low-elevation wind-driven grass fires.
“It depends on how fast and when we see heat,” Goss said. “We’re anticipating that it will dry out the end of June or July. If there’s not a break after this week’s heat spell, it could dry out faster.”