As a wildfire near Coolidge, dubbed the “River Fire” passes the 100-acre mark, officials are concerned about weather conditions that fuel flames.
Bill Boyd of the State Forestry Department said last year’s fire season never really ended, and that has a lot to do with the lack of winter weather.
"There should be plenty of snow up north. We should have had rain. The last I looked we were like 10 percent of normal or below. Even in the north where the snowpack should be, there’s nothing," he said.
Boyd said steady smaller fires throughout the fall of 2017, and this week’s much larger blaze are unfortunately a good indication of things to come.
He said the majority of wildfires are caused by human activities like abandoned camp fires or people dragging chains on the road.
The River Fire is 40 percent contained and is not threatening structures.
