Firefighters say wildfire season has arrived in Maine, earlier than many years due to the drought conditions before winter and the relatively low snowpack during the winter.

With the bright sunshine and gusty breezes over the last several days, fuels on the top of the ground are very dry. Several fires were reported Sunday.

In Arundel, firefighters say flames escaped from a barrel and caught nearby leaves on fire. Crews were able to stop the fire just before it reached a neighbor's home, though some of the siding was melted.

In Harpswell, Maine forest rangers say a fire burned about three acres near Tryon Road and put two homes and a boat in danger before crews were able to contain the flames.

In Baldwin, a legal fire spread and burned about an acre on Pigeon Brook Road.

In Jonesboro, rangers said a wildfire spread to a home and threatened another. With the fire concerns, many towns said they would not be issuing burn permits until the state gets some soaking rain and conditions improve.