Tanker 463; Fire Season 2017

Tanker 463; Fire Season 2017
Photo by Bill Barr - CLICK ME!

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Ask the Staff: Spring Wildfires

 Why is Spring the most dangerous time for wildfires in Pennsylvania?

If you look outside during Spring here in Pennsylvania, you’re sure to notice that our trees are quite bare, allowing sunlight to more readily hit those forest floors. That sunlight warms the forest floor and dries out the fuels – primarily leaf litter from the previous fall, as well as small diameter branches and twigs. Consider our past few winters - they’ve been fairly mild, and that works against us. The lack of snowpack that typically would compact the leaf litter into a layer that’s more difficult to burn, is already fluffed up and more receptive to ignition. Something else we all look forward to in the Spring is the days getting longer, and warmer – this provides more time for sunlight to warm up and dry the fuels. Combine this drying with the windy Spring days and you have a much larger number of combustible fuels. These two things – dry fuels and windy conditions – are part of the three conditions necessary for a wildfire to occur, the only thing missing is an ignition source.

In Pennsylvania, 99% of wildfires are caused by people. Springtime is typically seen as a perfect time to burn leaf litter, especially after cleaning up flower beds, gardens, and yards. A careless person burning trash or yard waste can be responsible for causing wildfires that threaten homes, property, and lives. These debris fires typically start in a backyard and use the dead grass and leaves to get into the bordering woodlands.

However, wildfires can occur during any month and any time of day. Please be careful when burning, check with your township for burn bans, and local ordinances on burning, and consult the Smokey Bear website for valuable tips on home protection, proper backyard debris burning, and campfire safety among others.

 

Katalynn Dildine

Wildland Fire Operations Technician

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