HARRISBURG, Pa. — With leaves and temperatures falling across the region, concern over wildfires is hanging around. Five counties in Central Pennsylvania: Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin, were placed under a high wildfire risk.
"We’ve gone several weeks now in November without much precipitation," Mike Kern, the chief forest fire warden for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) – Bureau of Forestry.
The lack of rainfall has left the Susquehanna Valley facing dry conditions. To mitigate that, the DCNR is executing prescribed fires, also known as “controlled burns."
"We can keep the intensity down, [wildfires] don't do as much damage," Kern said. "We’re basically trying to burn the forested areas or what we call the fuels."
Fuels refers to the dead leaves, dead branches, and anything dry on the state forests' floors and and throughout county parks.
This can also have benefits to specific vegetation across the state, with controlled burns helping species adapted to fires.
"For example, if you want to promote oak regeneration or plant oak trees in an area, you can actually use fire to do that," Kern said.
DCNR officials conducted prescribed burns in Michaux State Forest on Thursday for this purpose.cdu78itgr
However, human activity poses the greatest risk. DCCR officials say people cause nearly all wildfires in Pennsylvania.
"In Pennsylvania, humans cause almost 99% of the wildfires," Kern said. "If you’re burning, have a cleared area around the area you’re burning. Keep a rake and a shovel handy, some water, so you can put the fire out when you’re done with it."
State officials urge Pennsylvanians not to light any outdoor fires while the risk remains high.
Kern says snow and damp conditions should lower the wildfire risk as the winter months roll in.