Experts: Wildfire Season Should Be Lower-Risk In North Carolina

Experts are predicting a lower risk for wildfires this year in western North Carolina. More than 50 blazes burned thousands of acres during last year's wildfire season.

A spokesperson with the State Climate Office in Raleigh says that the mountains are doing better than usual when it comes to precipitation.

Rebecca Ward says Asheville has had 2 inches more of rain than normal since Sept. 1. She tells the Asheville Citizen-Times the area is about 7 inches above normal for the year.

The wildfire season in North Carolina usually runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 1. Forestry officials say the dry leaves on the ground are susceptible to any spark, and they're trying to educate people on how to help prevent fires.

Brian Haines with the North Carolina Forest Service says about 40 percent of all wildfires are caused by careless debris burning.