(WTAJ) — Monday marked the first official day of fall but many people in Central Pennsylvania have already noticed red, orange and brown leaves on trees.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) said due to a hot and dry August, trees are conserving their water supply, causing them to drop their leaves earlier this year.

Jeffrey Osborne, a Service Forester for DCNR in Blair, Cambria and Indiana Counties, said the dryer weather mixed with fallen leaves makes perfect conditions for forest fires.

"Recently we were in the moderate fire danger category and now we're in the low. But just a few days without rain and some wind, it can dry out those fine fuels. It can dry out the dead grass, it can dry out the leaves. And then anybody you know, burning or creating

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