Maine Observes Wildfire Awareness Week Amid An Active Fire Season

In recent years, Maine has experienced a significant increase in wildfire incidents, averaging roughly 700 per year compared to the historical average of around 500. So far in 2025, there have been 164 reported wildfires, with more than half occurring within the last week. 

It is an appropriate time for Governor Janet Mills to recognize April 20 through 26 as Wildfire Awareness Week. Maine’s fire season, or the period when the risk of wildfires is highest due to dry conditions, warm temperatures, and potentially strong winds, is from late March to late November. With over 90% of Maine’s wildfires being caused by people, this annual proclamation at the start of our fire season reminds us of the importance of practicing fire safety. To understand how wildfire prevention works, we must first understand how fire starts.

Figure 1. The general fire triangle outlines the necessary components to sustain a fire, and the fire behavior triangle outlines the factors that influence how a wildfire spreads. (Source: Yale experts explain wildfires. Yale Sustainability. (2021, January 21).

Fire requires fuel, oxygen, and a heat source to be sustained. If you remove one component of this fire triangle, you remove the fire. Forest Rangers emphasize this when warning Mainers to make sure all fires are “dead out” before leaving them. You remove fuel by clearing the area around and above your fire of debris, including grass. You remove the heat source by spraying water on the fire. You remove oxygen by smothering the fire with something like sand or water. If it's cool enough to touch, it's cool enough to leave.

These same principles are applied in wildland fire, with a second fire behavior triangle to contend with. Fire behavior refers to how the fire spreads or moves, its severity or impact on the environment, and its intensity, or the heat it produces. Factors that influence fire behavior include topography, fuel, and weather conditions. Whereas the general fire triangle consists of components that can be removed, the sides of the fire behavior triangle are harder to manipulate, yet they significantly influence fire safety.

This year’s wildfire awareness message emphasized the importance of utilizing weather information, including weather station data, the daily wildfire danger rating, and National Weather Service red flag warnings, as a key wildfire prevention tool. 

There are roughly 30 weather stations across the state that measure precipitation, temperature, relative humidity (moisture in the air), solar radiation (how much sunlight hits the ground), wind speed, and wind direction. These are all factors that influence fire behavior. A warmer, drier day with a strong wind poses a higher risk for wildfire than a cooler, wetter day with minimal wind. This informs the National Weather Service and the Maine Forest Service about potentially dangerous fire weather conditions. 

Figure 2. During the Wildfire Awareness Week press conference, employees from the National Weather Station and the Maine Forest Service showcased a weather station in Augusta, Maine. (Source: Kayci Willis)

The Maine Forest Service updates the fire danger rating across the state daily based on information from weather station data. Each rating outlines the conditions that could lead to a fire's ignition and the expected suppression methods. This rating is included in a Wildfire Danger Report, which informs the public about potential fire behaviors and the chances of hazardous fire activity. To view the daily report, visit www.mainefireweather.org. 

Figure 3. Maine's daily fire danger report on April 23, 2025, showcases southern and coastal Maine's high fire danger. (Source: https://mainefireweather.org/) 

Last week, the wildfire danger rating was a cause for concern in southern and coastal Maine, and the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning. Red Flag Warnings are issued when weather station data indicates specific conditions related to wind speed, relative humidity, and fuel availability that can result in extreme wildfires. In 2023, the Maine legislature passed a new law prohibiting all open fires, including campfires, in areas under a Red Flag Warning. Red Flag Warnings are used as a wildfire prevention tool by setting parameters for when it is safe to burn and when it is unadvisable. 

As Wildfire Awareness Week comes to a close and fire season ramps up, we are reminded to prioritize safety and reduce the risk of wildfires in our state. By following best practices for fire safety, such as ensuring all fires are completely extinguished, staying informed about weather conditions, and adhering to warnings and regulations, we can collectively protect our homes, communities, and natural landscapes.