DENVER | Colorado wildfire-fighting officials are preparing their 2016 forecast after two mild seasons.
The director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control and Gov. John Hickenlooper will announce the outlook Tuesday in Denver.
Colorado enters this season after a wet winter. About a quarter of the state is abnormally dry but not in a drought.
2014 and 2015 were comparatively easy for the state, averaging about 3,600 fires burning a total of about 39 square miles per year.
In 2013, Colorado endured more than 4,900 fires on 348 square miles. The Black Forest fire northeast of Colorado Springs destroyed 488 homes and killed two people.
In 2012, more than 6,100 fires charred about 666 square miles. The Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs destroyed 344 homes and also killed two people.