Approximately 4,200 acres burned throughout the state this spring as a result of 500 wildfires, according to state Division of Forestry figures.
In 2003, 669 fires burned 8,370 acres, and 959 fires burned 10,024 acres the year before. The 2001 season was particularly bad: 86,465 acres were burned in 887 fires.
Of the 500 fires this year, the agency said, 47 percent were caused by carelessness when debris burns were allowed to escape and set the surrounding woods on fire. Arson accounted for another 24 percent of the fires. Other causes include equipment use, railroads, smokers and children.
``Frequent rainfall and quick response time were key factors in preventing more acres from being damaged by wildfire,'' said state Forester Randy Dye.
``Division of Forestry personnel always do an excellent job suppressing forest fires, and I cannot give enough credit to local volunteer fire departments for the role they play in assisting with wildfire suppression,'' Dye said.
Because of the low rate of fires, forestry officials were able to concentrate on wildfire suppression training. In recent months, the agency said, more than 230 people attended classes statewide to learn about wildland firefighting techniques.
During the spring fire season, which started March 1, all outdoor burning was prohibited during the day and was legal only from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.
