The Connecticut Fire Academy has issued a warning for wildfire threats as the fall season brings falling leaves, drier air and low dew points. But this year, meteorologists said the rainy past few months have placed the state’s risks at historically low levels.

Connecticut has a history of wildfires, including the 2024 Hawthorne Fire in Berlin, that took the life of a Wethersfield volunteer firefighter after he was killed when his utility task vehicle rolled over while emergency crews battled the historic blaze.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the state is experiencing normal precipitation with no drought present. In parts of Litchfield County, there are areas considered abnormally dry, but that’s the lowest ranking on the severity scale, according to the monitor.

“The wildfire risk remains pretty low right now,” said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “We’ve had adequate rainfall over the past several weeks. So for at least the time being, the risk of brushfires is pretty low. We’re in that time of year now where leaves are falling off the trees, which adds to the fire risk. We’re also in that time of year where we can go through periods where we don’t get any big storms. Having said that, even though we’re heading into a drier period, we’ve had adequate rain that don’t see a big danger.”

Kines said the last few months have seen adequate rainfall to keep the ground moist. In August, the precipitation total was 4.81 inches at Bradley International Airport, of which 3.64 inches fell during a storm on Aug. 2 and 3. In September, the state recorded 5.58 inches of rain in total. So far in October, the state has recorded 1.9 inches of rain, according to Accuweather.

The average rainfall in September for Connecticut is 4.39 inches, so this year was well above the historical average, according to Kines.

“September saw above average rainfall that was spread out throughout the month,” Kines said. “September is traditionally peak wildfire season if conditions remain dry. But the rainfall was well distributed across the month. Because the state saw elevated precipitation, the wildfire risk was very low. That remains into October.”

With fall also comes shorter days and lower evaporation rates, meaning precipitation takes longer to evaporate. In the morning, dew on the ground can keep grass and leaves wet, warding off the threat of brush fires. On clear nights, grass loses heat faster than the surrounding air, so when the air cools to its dew point, the moisture condenses into visible droplets through condensation. Kines said dew can act as a protection against brush fires this time of year.

“You can have an inch and a half of rain from a thunderstorm in August and two days later the ground is dry,” Kines said. “This time of year, the days are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky and not as strong. So if you do get rain, it takes a while for the environment to dry out. Even though the leaves are falling off the trees, which adds to the fire risk, the threat remains low. As we get into November, we tend to see fewer wildfires than in September. But the risk is always there certainly if the state sees several weeks of dry conditions.”

While natural weather conditions can cause brush fires, the majority of wildfires in Connecticut are human-caused by improper burning of debris, arson, campfires, discarded wood ashes and equipment, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Despite a low brush fire risk, officials with the Connecticut Fire Academy said a single spark can quickly turn into a fire that threatens homes, property and whole communities.

According to fire officials with the Connecticut Fire Academy:

• Use caution with outdoor fires.
• Follow all open burning restrictions.
• Properly dispose of smoking materials and ashes.
• Report brush fires immediately by calling 911.

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