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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