Rainy April Means Fewer Wildfires, Forest Rangers Say

April's rainy weather has a silver lining, according to forest rangers: fewer wildfires.

The weather pattern that has brought rain every couple of days served to suppress forest fires across northern New England, officials said.

The National Weather Service said there was a trace or more of rain in April during 20 days in Portland, Maine and Burlington, Vermont, as well as on 23 days in Concord, New Hampshire.

So far, there have been more than 40 forest fires that burned a little more than 30 acres in Maine. Maine Forest Ranger spokesman Kent Nelson said that's actually good for this time of the year.

Officials caution that the fire season isn't over. It will be several weeks before vegetation turns green, reducing the fire danger.