Editor

Last week, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that all 100 counties in the state are now classified as either in a drought or abnormally dry. Although Anson is listed as abnormally dry, it's not time to breathe a sigh of relief just yet.

"Citizens don't need to let their guard down," said Anson County forest ranger Robert Perry, adding that although it rained last Wednesday, Feb. 18, by the next day, the relative humidity was still just 14 percent.

"Springtime is usually drier," he cautioned. "We do see an increase in fire activity at this time of they year."

So far in 2009, so good, however. "We've had 14 wildfires so far this year," Perry reported. "Last year, there were 78 fires Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, so it's not bad."

But it could get bad, he added. "As far as fire danger," he explained, "you look at pine needles and leaves and things like that. It changes day to day. Last summer, for example, was extremely dry. We went for weeks and weeks without rain."

In Anson County, a lot of wildfires— about 40-45 percent, Perry said— are caused by residents burning debris. The other 55-60 percent are caused by faulty farm equipment or lightning. "Most of it is people-caused though," Perry stated.

Statewide, more than 870 wildfires have burned over 3,000 acres since January.

DENR is encouraging all North Carolina residents to conserve water and on Sunday, issued a statement discouraging outdoor burning in the Piedmont. "Drought and abnormally dry weather in recent weeks has spread statewide, drying forest fuels such as downed trees and creating conditions that could prove dangerous for outdoor burning this month and during the spring," the press release stated.

"You can always err on the side of safety," Perry said. "It's not terribly dry yet but as we go into March and April, it will get worse. That's the biggest thing— over the next couple of months, people should just be cautious with burning."