Pa. Wildfire Prevention Week starts Sunday

Next week is Wildfire Prevention Week in Pennsylvania, and Gov. Tom Corbett is calling on residents to, you know, not start wildfires.

“Warm, sunny days and drying March winds can cause wildfire dangers to spike almost overnight,” Corbett said in his announcement. “Last spring, wet, cool weather proved to be firefighters’ strongest ally, helping curb brush and woodlands fires that usually can be traced to carelessness and always endanger our vast forest resources.”
State Bureau of Forestry stats show nearly 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s wildfires occur in March, April and May and claim about 10,000 acres of state and private woodlands every year.

Open fires are prohibited on state forestland until May 25. Wildfire Prevention Week runs March 18 to 25.