As Nick Larson walks through the woods of the high country, he's concerned. The mountain counties are entering fall fire season, but this year in particular it's here early and dry. 

"The leaves left over from last year are incredibly dry," Larson said.

What You Need To Know

  • Fall fire season has started in the mountains

  • Firefighters from around the country are being brought in to be on standby

  • The mountains have seen little rain this season, and the leaves left behind are a fuel source for these fires

  • Forest rangers are asking people to take precaution this year

The mountains counties have seen little rain this season so the leftover leaves are a fuel source.

"Our soil is incredibly dry right now so that hazard is out there for sure," Larson said.

Larson says they are already calling in firefighters from around the country and ask if you are going to burn you take precautions or wait until we have rain.

"The majority of our fires are human-caused especially this time of year when people are burning brush. An escaped campfire or warming fire from hunting," Larson said.

He says last year the number of fires in the mountains was low, but in 2021 we had one at Pogue Mountain and Pilot Mountain among others. 

"In 2016 we rotated through over 200 firefighters on the Grandfather Ranger District," Larson said.

So they are asking you to be careful, wait on those fires if possible, and if you do burn get a permit and let the fire department know.

"It will rain sometimes this winter and those leaves will still be there. We can get them taken care of then," Larson said.