BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) -- The Valley has been seeing dry conditions, as there's been little rain over the past 30 days.

Last week, Columbiana County was upgraded to severe drought status.

With dry conditions and low humidity, there's a higher chance of brush fires.

"This year, with as dry as the grass is, that's becoming a little bit of a concern," said Tom Shuman with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry.

Shuman says so far this year, the state has seen more than 59 fires over 47 acres. At this time last year, the state had 198 fires over 248 acres.

Dry conditions and low humidity are not the only causes of large brush fires.

"Typically, in Ohio, the main causes of fires, wildfires, is debris burning -- so, human-caused this time of year. We generally are no

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