NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The leaves are falling, the air’s getting drier and North Carolina’s wildfire risk is climbing. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, abundant dead and downed trees left behind by Hurricane Helene are the perfect fuel for wildfire flames.

Each month from now through January highlights North Carolina for an above average wildfire season.

That debris has been on the ground for more than a year and Philip Jackson with NC Forest Service says it’s ready and available for any wildfires.

“The main concern is definitely in Western North Carolina where we still have in some places excessive and extreme storm debris still on the ground from Hurricane Helene… so we have an excessive fuel source," Jackson said. "It's going to burn hotter and spread quicker. But al

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