Entire Maine Faces Elevated Wildfire Risk as Dry, Windy Weather Continues

On Monday, October 6, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued special weather statements warning that the entire state of Maine is at an elevated risk of fire danger. This comes during a period of persistently dry weather, accompanied by gusty winds, which significantly increases the risk of uncontrolled wildfire spread.

The NWS Gray and Caribou offices reported that a combination of very dry air and breezy southwest winds would elevate the wildfire risk in Maine throughout the day. Relative humidity values were forecast to drop to between 20 and 35 percent in the afternoon, while southwest winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 25 mph in some regions, were expected to further dry the fuels, creating conditions where fires could ignite and spread rapidly.

The risk covers both western Maine, including towns such as Farmington, Lewiston-Auburn, Portland, Rockland, and Bridgton, as well as northern and eastern Maine, encompassing communities like Allagash, Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Bangor, and Bar Harbor. Officials have urged residents and visitors to take preventive actions, including consulting with local fire officials before conducting any kind of open burning and strictly complying with state or local fire regulations.

The dry and breezy weather system is forecast to persist through the afternoon and is expected to weaken only with the onset of evening, as wind gusts diminish and relative humidity increases. The risk of wildfire danger is expected to lessen by Tuesday night, as a cold front is forecast to bring lower temperatures and rain.