Just because the winter was wetter than usual doesn't mean Arizonans should let their guard down this wildfire season, state fire officials warned Monday.
Arizona has seen above-average rainfall recently, and the National Weather Service is predicting the severity of this year's wildfire season will be normal or below average.
The threat remains, and fire officials emphasized that danger will grow as the weather gets warmer, particularly in central and southern Arizona.
A wetter winter is better for drought conditions but creates more vegetation that helps fuel wildfires when it dries out over the summer.
The potential for blazes is especially high in southern Arizona, state fire management officer John Truett said, where two to three years' worth of grasses provide plenty of fuel.