MAINE MONITOR • March 10, 2024
While overall a fairly wet state, Maine has seen an increasing number of wildfires in recent years, as droughts intensify, development increases and more and more people venture into the woods. (Almost all wildfires in Maine — 92% — are started by humans. Make sure those campfires are out!) The wildfire risk in Maine is projected to increase “significantly” in coming years, according to the Maine Forest Service, as temperatures rise, droughts increase, and summer soil moisture drops. One of the ways to reduce this risk is by fighting fire with fire. While insurance challenges remain, Logan Johnson, executive director of Maine TREE, said he expects fire to become a bigger part of the forestry management in Maine.