Cal Fire is working with Valley locals to prevent fire hazards.

FRESNO, Calif. — With summer approaching, the chances of fires in the Valley are increasing.

The summer months bring hotter, drier weather, which is perfect conditions for a fire to spread.

Areas with dry brush, tall weeds and windy weather make homes and businesses the most at risk for fires.

Tobbie Biglione owns Valley Air Conditioning and Repair, and her business is located right next to an area with weeds taller than five feet.

“If [a fire] were ignited over [here] with the wind going in that direction, it’s going to blow all of the sparks and flames and everything toward our building,” Biglione said.

She said that if a fire were to occur near her business, it would be catastrophic.

“It’s going to take out my whole operation, and that sort of thing takes a while to get going again,” Biglione said. “So, quite possibly, I would have to unemploy 90 people until we got our feet back on the ground.”

Overgrown weeds are one of the biggest fire hazards around the city. Firefighters help combat the tall weeds through practices like weed abatement, where they cut down the weeds and clean up the dry brush to slow the spread of a fire.

Cal Fire, the state fire department, works with people in Fresno County to help clean dry brush around their properties to slow the spread of possible fires.

Fresno Cal Fire Chief Dustin Hail said that the fire department works closely with businesses and homeowners to prevent fires.

“They’re also looking to make sure the clearance for the 100 feet around each structure, the overhang of your branches, the roofs, just looking for anything that could intensify a wildfire or help spread a wildfire,” Hail said.

In California, the state law requires that weeds must be cut down to four inches or less to prevent fires from spreading.

“That’s why we try to encourage, and it is the law, to make sure that your grass is cut down,” Hail said.