Incoming storm is expected that the fire risk in South Arizona will be reduced

Tucson, ariz. (13 messages) – An incoming storm Will bring an urgently needed relief to the fire risk here in the south of Arizona.

It comes after weeks without rain and even a red flag warning on weekends.

13 News spoke to KP Maxwell, coordinator of Wildland at the Tucson Fire Department.

He said that wind and relative humidity are the two biggest things he can consider in the fight against a forest fire. But it is much less concerned about the wind when the air humidity is high.

“If we have a moist environment and the fuels have moisture in it, even if the wind is on it, it will be difficult to bring it to burn,” said Maxwell.

He adds that an increased humidity influences some plants more than others.

“Something that is a fine fuel, like a grass, we call a one -hour fuel and the grass can absorb from the environment in just one hour of humidity,” he said. “If it is wet outside, the grass becomes moist within an hour.”

He also said that the opposite is true and the same fine fuels can dry out in an hour. This is one of the reasons 13 First alarm boss meteorologist Erin Christensen The moisture is important to keep an overview.

“This can give us an idea of ​​when we have the opportunity to rain,” said Christensen. “If the air molecules are really huge because the air temperature is high, stick to this water before you actually drop it in the form of rain.”

And if we have no humidity, we get things like red flag warnings that we had last weekend.

“Relative humidity 15% or lower average daily relative humidity. Wind was 40 miles per hour, frequent gusts at 25 miles per hour and both for several hours, which rates a high risk of fire. “

Maxwell said 13 news, his comfort zone is 20%.

“Here in the desert, air hems can lead to a fairly strong, fast fire growth,” he said. “But the really fine fuels like the grasses when we start over 20%, it is a little less susceptible to combustion.”

Maxwell also emphasized how important it is to make space in your house, as the embers can lead to lighting your home. This area that is closest to your home is the name of the ignition zone for home and includes things like grass, tumbleweed or even leaves in your gutter.

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