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Fire officials monitor dry conditions

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — This year's mild winter and lack of rain is creating some concern about the approaching fire season in the Carolinas, and some local communities are already feeling the impact.

Forestry officials said the good news is all of the vegetation likely to burn is now giving way to green leaves and grass, which should slow a fire down.

But the low humidity and wind is working against firefighters.

Rangers were in the woods north of Mount Holly on Friday at the site of the 18 fires that occurred in the Charlotte area this weekend. One fire burned 22 acres. It was driven by 20 mph winds and burned a quarter mile from Cheryl Bingham's home on Sandy Ford Road.

"It was kind of scary seeing all of that fire, and knowing the wind is blowing toward our house,” Bingham said.

The fire burned a few vacant structures and caught the attention of forestry officials, who said there are usually a few fires this time of year, but conditions are different.

"We have been dry probably the last year and a half at least," said Chase Payne, with the North Carolina Forestry Service.

They are hoping to avoid another summer like the one last year, when fires burned thousands of acres in Western North Carolina, but that would take more rain in the spring.

"The little showers we have been getting periodically have helped the surface," Payne said.

It would take a quarter to a half inch of rain every week or so to really reduce the threat.

"We have no control over the weather, but you do have control over your property," Payne said.

Don't burn debris on windy days, and clean away debris from structures. Forestry officials have already begun what they call hazard reduction. They are waiting for the right conditions to burn away debris.

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