MARQUETTE COUNTY -- Dry, dry, dry.

Due to a mild winter that shattered the record for the warmest and ranked as one of the least snowiest, that's what you'll see if you take a drive across any part of the U.P.  While the weather has been great for getting outdoors, it has led to an increased risk of wildfires.

"Well today and tomorrow we've got fire behaviors of very high and extreme.  Our critical day looks to be tomorrow.  But it's not out of the question to have extreme fire behavior happening today as well," explains Fire Specialist Celeste Chingwa.

With many areas running with a precipitation deficit of nearly five inches, it's no surprise that the DNRE is restricting burn permits across Upper Michigan.

"Well it goes more like a day-by-day basis. The past couple of weeks we've been restricting at least until after 6:00 in some areas and in a lot of areas not allowing permits at all," says Resource Protection Manager Allan Keto.

After the Black River Falls fire scorched 1300 acres last May, many residents in that area are afraid it'll happen again.  Luckily, they're taking steps to help prevent fire danger.

"We've been cutting down a lot of the trees that are close to the house to keep it safer," says Ely Township resident Jill Wikman, "and anytime we burn brush, we always check and make sure the fire danger is low."

But with the weekend right around the corner, officials are concerned that not everyone will play it safe.

"And that's a big concern for us because the leftover campfires and bonfires from the night before and then, of course, people lighting warming fires at their homes just for the enjoyment of having a marshmallow barbeque at night or something," Chingwa says.

And with the warm weather and lack of rain expected to last through the next week, it doesn't look like relief is in sight for awhile.