A host of wildfires broke out across Maine Friday amid windy and dry weather.
The Maine Forest Rangers reported Friday night there were wildfires and open burns that got out of control in 18 communities: Anson, Hodgdon, Brownville, Orneville, Township, Whiting, Manchester, Kenduskeag, Greenwood, Wiscasset, Staceyville, Deer Isle, Albion, Sangerville, Sumner, Oakfield, Fairfield, Clinton, and Woodville. The Orneville fire spread across 8.5 acres, the rangers said.
Though there's been a lot of rain this spring, moisture levels have been low recently for "fine fuels" like grass, needles, and small twigs that can easily catch fire, the rangers said in a Facebook post.
"These fuels dry out very rapidly in direct sunlight, with light winds and with low relative humidity," the rangers said. "Fires in these fuels start easily, burn intensely and spread rapidly."