By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Fire Department was busy yesterday extinguishing grass fires.
GFD spokesperson/firefighter Phyllis Blas said a grass fire in the Sabana area of Barrigada Heights occurred at 12:32 p.m. yesterday.
GFD units responding to this grass fire included Engine 1 from Tamuning, Scout 3 from Barrigada, and Engine 4 from Dededo.
Assisting the fire department was a Department of Agriculture forestry unit. The fire was brought under control at 3:42 p.m.
Other firefighters responded to another fire at the Harmon Industrial Park at 1:10 p.m., while the fire in Barrigada Heights was still burning.
Blas said this fire was under control by 1:47 p.m. The GFD unit that responded to this fire was Scout 4.
Blas told Variety that by this time last year, there were 282 grass fires reported. As of yesterday, there had only been 99 grass fires reported.
National Weather Service meteorologist Carl McElroy said that Guam is in the midst of a dry season, which will continue until May.
He also told Variety that conditions which would call for a fire weather watch would include 20 mph winds, low humidity, and the rate on the drought index.
McElroy said the weather this week includes breezy conditions with some showers.