The Sparks Fire Department says a child playing with a cigarette lighter started a small brush fire Wednesday afternoon.
The fire broke out just before 2:15pm in a ditch along Vista del Rancho Boulevard in Sparks.
Firefighters managed to put the flames out quickly and kept it contained to less than an acre.
Because of the dry winter we've seen, firefighters are urging everyone to be extra careful especially near brush.
"We've had below normal precipitation this winter, all indications are we're going to have a busy fire season. It's only the middle of March and we're already started," says Batt. Chief Chris Maples.
Crews stayed on scene for several hours to check for hotspots.