With hunting and other outdoors activities increasing at a time when woodlands and brush canbecome tinder dry in just a few days, the state Bureau of Forestry isurging all residents to guard against wildfires in Pennsylvania's 17million acres of forestlands.

State officials said a sustained dry period over much of the statewould come at a time when wildfire dangers normally are high, and criticalconditions can develop almost overnight in many forested areas of Pennsylvania.

"With rainfall in recent weeks spotty at best, a dry windy span of justa few days quickly can make forest wildfires a very real threat," saidDepartment of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary MichaelDiBerardinis. "Fall foliage is a joy to behold, but when the leaves begindropping and drying, they become added fuel for woodland fires.

"Amid these conditions, it takes only a careless moment to ignite adevastating forest fire," said Secretary DiBerardinis, noting debris burning andarson are the leading causes of wildfires throughout the state. "More than95 percent of the wildfires in Pennsylvania are caused by people."

With several deer and small-game hunting seasons opening this month, SecretaryDiBerardinis urged hunters to be especially careful smoking amid dryvegetation. As a longtime annual safeguard against wildfires, the Bureau ofForestry forbids campfires and other open burning from October 1 to December 1 inall state forestlands.

SecretaryDiBerardinis said the need to guard against wildfires increases eachyear as more development encroaches on heavily wooded tracts. Homeownersalways should be diligent when burning trash and debris, he said."Even though evergreens and other trees and vegetation appear green and healthy, they sometimes are really dry, and the reality is that many homescould be destroyed by a wildfire," said Secretary DiBerardinis.

The Bureau of Forestry is working through state agencies and local firecompanies to educate Pennsylvania citizens on procedures to make theirhomes in forest environments safer from wildfires. Information can beobtained from the Bureau of Forestry, county Emergency Management Office, or the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

For details on wildfire prevention, contact your local forest district,or visit the DCNR Forest Fire Protection webpage.

10/17/2008