With how wet April was, it might seem incongruous to be worried about brush fires, but it doesn’t take long at all for the weather conditions to be right to help fires spread.

But, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, March, April and May are three of the most active months for wildfires. Firefighters in the area know that all too well. In the Monday, April 29, edition of the Butler Eagle, we heard from firefighters about ways people can help prevent brush and wildfires.

For a wildfire to start, there needs to be a source of fuel, dry conditions and some kind of ignition source. The spark nearly always comes from a person.

In 2023, there were 10,317 wildfires in the eastern section the U.S., according to federal statistics. Of those fires, 10,240 were caused by people.

It’s an expensive problem, too. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the federal government alone spent $3.5 billion fighting wildfires in 2022.

Justin O’Hara, chief of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department, pointed out how important it is for people to be aware of what’s around them when burning yard waste.

“Pay attention to the wind direction and how fast it is,” O’Hara said. “Don’t start your fire upwind from a dry, wooded area.”

Taking some very basic precautions can help drastically reduce the risk that a yard waste burn pile can spread out of control.

— Never start a fire on a windy day.

— Pay attention to sites like weather.gov to determine whether burning is safe.

— Only burn dry vegetation, never household trash or anything else.

— Choose a site for the fire surrounded by gravel or dirt for at least 10 feet around.

— Keep the pile small, adding more as the fire burns down.

— When done, drown the ashes of the fire with water and turn it over several times.

Wildfires can cause tremendous damage, but many of them could be prevented with just a few steps.

— JK