Officials Expecting Hot Dry Fire Season

Firefighters are now battling the state's first large brush fire. The North Maple Fire, located in Cowlitz County near Kelso. It's burning in timber, brush, grass. It could be a sign of a long fire season this spring and summer says Janet Peirce with the State department of Natural Resources. Last year they battled a record 1850 wildfires. She's hoping this year will be different. But if it's not they're prepared. "Even if we see a very wet spring and summer we are prepared. But we believe it will be extremely dry this year."
Pierce says all the forecasts are calling for warm and dry conditions for the summer of 2019 so they're preparing now for what could be another rough fire season just like 2018.