PORTLAND, Maine — This time of year tends to be a favorite for many, myself included. We're warming up from the winter cold, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and everything wants to start to grow. But it's not all good news in spring.
The snow has melted, and the greenery has not yet grown. This means we have dead leaves, pine needles and cones, broken branches, and other drying vegetation on the ground. It makes perfect fuel for a fire.
The nice and sunny weather we enjoy only helps dry out this fuel even further, making the debris even easier to ignite.
Humidity is very low right now, meaning the air is dry. That helps fires spread because of the lack of water in the air.
It's also sunny and breezy, which again dry out any vegetation on the ground.
On top of that, a gust of wind or a light breeze can help transport sparks, embers, or anything that ignites, causing fires to fan out.
All of these factors combine to make this time of year prime for wildfires to spread.
According to the Maine Forest Service, 90 percent of wildfires are caused by humans. The fires can destroy property, natural resources, and threatens lives.
At the time of writing this Tuesday morning, 12 out of 12 zones were in the yellow or high for fire danger. That is the entire state of Maine.
Winds shift onshore Tuesday, which will help increase moisture in the air slightly, but not enough to mitigate any fire danger.
Maine Forest Service updates the Wildfire Danger Report each day by 9 a.m.
It's important to check with your local fire officials before burning. During days when fires are at high risk, they may not issue burn permits.
Maine also has a new law designed to help prevent wildfires. You can read more about the new change by clicking the link below.