The first full day of summer is expected to be clear and sunny, and while that sounds like good news to most of us – it’s making local firefighters a little nervous.

It’s been long enough since the last rainfall that the wildfire threat in Nova Scotia is on the rise. The provincial fire index shows the risk in metro is split between moderate and high, much like the rest of the province. http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/fwi/

With more dry, warm weather in store, local fire officials are reminding everyone it takes only a small spark to start a devastating fire.

Jim Rudderham of the provincial wildfire management team tells News 95.7, Nova Scotians have the power to ensure that fires aren’t an issue this year.

“In Nova Scotia, the number one cause of fires is people,” said Jim Rudderham,  “Ninety-nine per cent of fires are caused by people. The other one per cent is caused by lightning.”

Rudderham says most fires are caused by simple carelessness, like a moment of inattention with a backyard or camp fire.

Dave Meldrum of Halifax Regional Fire Services says cigarette butts are also a major hazard at this time of year.

“Be very careful about smoking materials,” he said.  “If you’re in the woods or wooded areas, on pathways, cigarette butts need to be disposed of very carefully, not just tossed into light brush or into the woods, but extinguished fully.”

Meldrum says in HRM especially, a wildfire outside the urban core can still pose a threat to city residents.

“You can go from downtown within minutes, you can be in a forested, natural area, and that’s great,” he said. “But what it means is that a forest fire or brushfire can very quickly to threaten people’s homes and their property.”

Burn permits are currently required across Nova Scotia for any outdoor fires.