With the last measurable rain in the region occurring in September, conditions are quickly pushing a significant amount of counties into drought territory.

“We all know how dry it has been out there,” Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said on Thursday. “Almost all of our fire departments have been out with brush fires. It’s not that time of year because normally this happens in the spring before the grass and trees turn green.”

However, according to the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force, Carbon County is now one of 33 counties in a drought watch; while neighboring Schuylkill County is in a drought warning. Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties are also in a drought watch at this time.

Nothstein stressed the importance of refraining from outdoor burning at this time because the extreme dry conditions make it easy for fire to start and spread.

He also noted that many of the communities in Carbon County have already issued burn bans.

“People have got to realize it’s extremely hazardous right now,” Nothstein said, noting that in recent days, there have been a few brush fires reported through the region.

The state says that with the watch and warning, residents and businesses are “encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing nonessential water use. Public water suppliers may request water conservation measures to ensure reliable delivery of drinking water.”

“Pennsylvania received very little rain over September and October, capping off a dry six months, particularly in the southeast part of the state. DEP makes drought declarations based on long-term trends; a rainy week may not lift the drought status for an area,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We want residents to be aware of these conditions and be mindful of their water use.”

“Much of the commonwealth is at a high risk for fire danger as a result of dry conditions, and it is critical that Pennsylvanians use extreme caution when handling fire or avoid any burning as these conditions persist,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.

Drought declarations are based on four factors — precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels and soil moisture. DEP makes drought declarations after assessing the departures from normal ranges for periods of 3-12 months, as well as from information it receives from public water suppliers.

The current dry ground conditions, paired with fall leaves and brush make for a perfect fire source that will spread quickly.

The state reports that “human activity causes 99 percent of wildfires in Pennsylvania, leading to the destruction of thousands of acres of state and private woodlands each year.”

Nothstein echoed this thought, saying that if the forestry department gets called out and it is learned that you are responsible for starting a brush fire, the cost for damages incurred, manpower and other expenses is billed to that person.

“There are consequences,” he said, adding that water supplies are down, meaning it makes things harder when fires occur.

“We are getting into drought conditions,” Nothstein said. “Just look at the Lehigh (River) and other streams ... they’re extremely low, extremely dry and it’s going to take several inches of rain over a period of time to help alleviate the fire hazard. Please be careful out there. Don’t burn. You don’t have to. There is no reason you have to burn. So don’t do it because you’re endangering other people’s properties and lives.”

DCNR advises those lighting fires at home or campsites to keep combustible items at least 10 feet away. A rake or shovel, along with water, should be readily available to fully extinguish embers. Officials also recommend checking DCNR’s website for elevated fire risk alerts.

The last measurable rainfall in the Philadelphia region occurred on Sept. 28, the National Weather Service reported earlier this week, making it the longest streak of consecutive days with no measurable precipitation.

According to AccuWeather, the next possible chance for a shower, with little to no significant rain amounts, is Wednesday evening.