Are wildfires becoming more common in the Chattanooga area?

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – If you have noticed ‘wildfires’ in the headlines a little more, you’re not wrong.

Aubrey Brown, Wildland Urban Interface Specialist says, “From the fire world we kind of know this time of year when we start seeing those red, yellow, orange looking leaves. We know fire season is around the corner. Therefore, wildfires get elevated at this time.”

The News 12 viewing area has seen many fires sparking up this month.

Brown said, “It’s dry. It’s burning deeper. Obviously with the dire conditions its burning a little deeper so that makes the fire suppression a little bit tougher. We have to get down deeper into the soil matter to actually get the fire completely out.”

But why is that?

“You add the leaf fall to the dryer weather, it is kind of like adding fuel to the fire. Obviously we all have seen that on Lookout Mountain with that wildfire. That’s due to part of the drought and not having measurable rain. We are having leaf fall and therefore the fire potential is higher,” said Brown.

With the lack of rain and the dry falling leaves, anything could start a fire.

News 12’s Chief Meteorologist Austen Onek said,  “That’s why we have to use a lot of caution with anything involving fire or flame. We’re talking a spot welder outside someplace, a backyard BBQ, a cigarette butt tossed out the window could start a major wildfire. That is a very good possibility of continuing to happen in the next several days if not a couple of weeks if we don’t get a good soaking around here.”

If you see something, say something.

Onek said, “It’s also important to keep your eyes open to see what’s going on. If you see smoke someplace maybe that’s somebody burning trash or leaves or something they shouldn’t be doing. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to report that to your local fire agencies and say I’m located at this location, I’m looking over here, and I’m seeing a lot of smoke and flame.”

According to the Air pollution Control Bureau, burning is not allowed currently due to dry and windy conditions.

Without any significant rain in the forcible future, the risk of wildfires will remain high.