State fire officials say they've responded to a number of wild fires over the past week, and are uring people be cautious when doing any open burning.
Kent Nelson of the Maine Forest Service told WCSH-TV that the lack of snow pack has come early to some parts of the state this year, and a few fires have broken out in southern and Downeast Maine.
Nelson says people need to get a permit before burning yard waste. He told the station that while a lot of people might want to burn debris left by the recent wind-driven rain storm, they should instead cover the piles with a tarp and wait until a soaking rain falls before getting a permit and burning the waste.
Nelson says the fire danger is expected to remain high until the trees and grass begin to green up.