No Surprise, 2015 Fire Danger Expected To Be High

Many experts say the drought conditions will not help.

Warmer than usual weather that's arrived earlier than expected, coupled with a drought in Washington state means the fire danger will be much higher than usual this summer.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Northwest and Washington state in particular are expected to see more fires than usual this season. Thunderstorm activity on the East side has already been higher than seasons past, and it's expected to continue, raising the chance to wildfires.

Throw in the drought conditions, and officials say extra caution will need to be exercised to prevent widespread burns. Officials say they expect fires to break out earlier and burn to higher elevations.

Last summer some 900 fires burned nearly 500 square miles in Washington state.