A state forestry official says property owners should be cautious when burning leaves or brush because conditions are ripe for wildfires.

Jimmy Mordica, director of conservation education and public outreach for the Mississippi Forestry Commission, says March is traditionally the worst month for wildfires. He said there are still a lot of leaves and brush on the ground and there’s nothing to stop a fire from spreading.

Officials in Jones County say conditions there are extremely favorable for wildfires because of a lack of rainfall, low humidity, and gusting winds. Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna says the county is 42-percent below normal on rainfall this year.