ALPENA – While the unseasonably warm temperatures this weekend are great for last-minute autumnal yard work, they also increase the risk of fire, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources warns.

Little recent rainfall has made grasses and leaves dry, and the state wants residents to use caution if they plan to burn leaves or have campfires. The risk is greatest in the southern Lower Peninsula, but the risk exists statewide, the DNR says.

“If you would like to burn, check online for the current status of burn permits in your area,” Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the DNR’s Forest Resources Division, said in a statement.

“Dry leaves add to the fuel on the ground that can make a fire take off quickly,” he added.

Burn permits are required statewide. For the northern Lower and Upper peninsulas, visit Michigan.gov/BurnPermit to find out more about the requirements in your municipality.