During the winter months, many landowners take advantage of the cooler weather to burn debris and brush. If the fires are not properly put out, they can burn underground, even under snow and ice, and under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires. Holdover fires are the leading cause of early spring wildland fires.
Even though snow reduces the risk of fire burning into the ground, it is recommended that landowners regularly visit all fall and winter burn sites to make sure the fire is out. Walk the area and roll over debris to look for visible signs of burning such as melting snow around the edges and touch the burn area with your hands and smell for smoke.
