Fresno, CA, USA (KSEE) -- The Jesusita Fire burning in Santa Barbara is a sign that fire season has started.

Meanwhile, here in the Central Valley, two fires broke out today in Clovis and Madera, both coming very close to homes.

Winds and hot temperatures made fighting these fires tough Friday, fortunately no homes were lost, but with the Central Valley being hit so hard by drought, there's a lot of dry brush out there just waiting to go up.

Joyce Gaskill, Scared by Flames: "It came right up to the back door."

Joyce Gaskill got the scare of her life today, when flames came racing toward her Madera home.

Gaskill: "Terrifying, you know, we thought everything was gone."

The fire started small, but quickly burned through 37 acres of land.

Strong wind gusts carried hot embers through the air and onto the other side of this river bank.

Matthew Watson, Cal Fire: "The winds were up to 15 mph and actually jumped river."

Gaskill: "We seen it way back by river and then I went over to mom's for a minute and got a phone call. She said you better come home. And it was already up here."

As fire season heats up, officials are urging residents to clear at least 100 feet of dry brush or vegetation around your home.

They call it, creating "defensible space," considered a huge benefit for fire fighters if a fire ignites near your home.

It's something that can happen in the blink of an eye.

This land in Clovis burned to a crisp Friday.

The fire sparked, when a resident mowing dry brush for a neighbor hit a rock with his tractor.

For Preston Phillips’ full story, click on the video link above.