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Firefighters Prepare For Wildfires 'One Spark... All It Takes'

LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4)- Thanks to a wet spring with a lot of precipitation along the Front Range, the wildfire season in Colorado has been delayed- until now.

Vegetation has turned brown and yellow with continuous hot weather and scattered rain showers. That brush has the potential to ignite quickly.

"One spark may be all it takes," said Poudre Fire Authority spokesman Patrick Love.

Outside Loveland, firefighters worked through the night from Thursday into Friday to contain a wildfire sparked by lightning on Bobcat Ridge.

It was an aerial attack that helped put out the flames. With that fire under control, crews turned their attention to mopping up hot spots and prevention.

Bobcat Ridge wildfire
(credit: CBS)

"This weekend does show a little warmer and drier so our crews are prepared to respond to any fire," said Love.

Poudre Fire Authority has already responded to more vegetation fires so far this year than the Fort Collins-Larimer County area typically averages in one year's time. That has fire crews urging everyone to take caution.

"Whether you are discarding smoking materials, whether you are barbecuing, whether you're using a campfire or even doing yard maintenance," said Love.

bobcat ridge grass fire
(credit: CBS)

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

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