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Nearly 100 wildfires in Maine so far this year according to Forest Service

The Maine Forest Service says the number of wildfires in the state is approaching 100 and that more than 60 acres have burned so far this year.

SANFORD (NEWS CENTER Maine) — The Maine Forest Service says the number of wildfires in the state is approaching 100 and that more than 60 acres have burned so far this year.

The service responded to nearly two dozen grass and brush fires Monday, including one in Sanford that burned two acres.

It's no surprise fires have been popping up this week according to NEWS CENTER Meteorologist Ryan Breton. In areas where the snow has melted, dead grass and old leaves are the fuel for fires to start literally from a single spark.

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Fire officials say the spring combination of warm temperatures and low humidity pose a risk.

The dry weather and gusty breeze helped more fires spread Tuesday. In Randolph, a grass and brush fire started at a home on Windsor Street. The forest service says it began when someone was burning debris on the property and it caught the grass on fire. About two acres were scorched. The debris burn was a violation

Rain is coming Wednesday, and while that will help reduce the fire concern in the short term, it looks like we may be in for an extended stretch of warm and dry weather next week.

That means the fire risk will increase again, and it will start to include parts of the state where snow is still on the ground. It will remain a concern until all of the dried out grass greens up.

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