Last summer, in a quiet Pima County neighborhood near the Tucson foothills, monsoon lightning sparked a brush fire in a dry desert wash. Winds pushed flames toward nearby homes where invasive buffelgrass had turned golden and brittle—perfect tinder for wildfire.

In Tucson’s desert environment, especially during the monsoon season, fire danger is real and increasing. With the combination of summer lightning storms, drought-dried vegetation, and properties bordering mountain areas, wildfires can ignite in seconds and spread quickly. But there is something you can do to reduce your risk: create a Firewise landscape.