Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry The Smokey Bear sign at the Allegheny National Forest office indicates moderate wildfire danger on Tuesday.

Spring has arrived.

And with it… wildfire season.

The Warren County Public Safety Department, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Allegheny National Forest, and the National Weather Service are all warning people of a higher risk of fires.

On Monday, firefighters responded to numerous confirmed fires in Warren and Forest counties.

The largest consumed about five acres of Deerfield Township just outside Tidioute Borough, according to Public Safety Director Ken McCorrison.

“It is officially spring fire season and it looks like we will be entering into a drying trend for at least the next week to 10 days,” DCNR Bureau of Forestry Cornplanter District Manager Cecile Stelter said.

“The days are getting longer and the sun is getting warmer so fuels like leaves, dried grasses, etc. can dry out very quickly,” Stelter said. “Also in the spring we have erratic winds that can not only help to dry out fuels but also transport embers from burn barrels, debris piles etc. into receptive fuels and thus starting new (unintentional) fires.”

“This time of year we don’t have leaves on many of the deciduous/hardwood trees so they are not providing any shade which allows the fuels to dry out quickly on the ground,” she said. “These trees are also re-starting a lot of their growing season processes so they are taking up a lot of water, again contributing to drying conditions.”

“A combination of dry and windy conditions will create an elevated risk of wildfire spread across all of central Pennsylvania,” according to a Tuesday National Weather Service report.

“Finally, there are a lot of people out recreating – trout season, spring turkey season, etc. – or just doing yard work and starting fires under potentially dry conditions,” Stelter said.

Warm temperatures are tempting people to get outside to clean up their properties, McCorrison said.

Those conditions apply to any spring. Conditions are even more favorable for fires right now.

“We had a lot less snow cover and snow pack this year, so our fuels were not packed down by the snow and it will take less time for them to dry out,” Stelter said. “Additionally, with the storms that occurred these last two weekends, there is a higher than normal amount of debris that people want to clean up and potentially burn.”

“Residents are urged to exercise caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery, cigarettes, or matches,” according to the NWS. “If dry grasses and tree litter begin to burn, the fire will have the potential to spread rapidly.”

For those who are going to burn, Stelter urges them to do so safeety.

“Keep those burn piles small and manageable,” she said. “Never leave an outdoor fire once it is lit. When you do have to leave … make sure the fire is completely out.”

“Keep a 10-foot cleared area around burn piles, burn barrels, and even campfires,” she said. “If using a burn barrel, be sure to have a lid on it with holes no larger than one-quarter inch.”

“Have a hose, water and a shovel near any fire you ignite,” she said.

Ideally, people would not burn when conditions are ideal for fires.

“Don’t burn on sunny, windy, dry days,” Stelter said.

“Most wildfires in Pennsylvania — 99% — are caused by people, so most wildfires are preventable,” she said. “We ask everyone to do their part.”

“Most wildfires are suppressed by local volunteer fire departments,” Stelter said. “By being careful with outdoor burning, people can help our volunteers by reducing the number of incidents that they have to respond to.”

Anyone interested in participating in their communities is encouraged to look into service with a volunteer fire department, she said.