The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced a burn ban for all state forests.

The ban will be in place until May 25, due to the increased potential for spring wildfires.

The state agency imposes the ban each year, said DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson.

According to DCNR, as the spring sun climbs higher in the sky, days become longer and warmer. Trees are bare, which allows sunlight to reach, warm and dry the forest floor.

“Coupled with strong and dry spring winds, this leads to a tremendous amount of combustible fuels,” and increases the chance of a wildfire, DCNR notes.

State parks and state park campsites are unaffected by the burn ban.