The sign outside the Florida Forest Service's Bunnell office has Smokey Bear pointing to a “low” fire danger.

Low, however, doesn't mean no fire danger. This is Florida — there is no break from brush fire season.

Many people may think we've had a pretty wet fall and winter, but long-time wildfire expert Timber Weller said eyes are deceiving you.

"The impression people have is we're getting an extraordinary amount," Weller said. "Well, actually, this is what we should have been getting all those other years, but we weren't. And because we didn't get the average amount of rain in those previous years, that's when we had above average number of fires and also the size of fires."

Weller has about 30 years of experience to lean on, and he anticipates things drying up soon.

That's why prescribed burns are so important. Crews burn off the buildup of underbrush and potential fuel in a controlled fashion.

It doesn't take much to find the scars from previous wildfires in Palm Coast. But like hurricanes, those memories quickly fade over time.

Weller said not remembering the past could make the next round of wildfires that much more destructive.

"With wildfire, the more years you go without it, the more fuel and therefore the worse it's going to be," he said. "Where if a hurricane, if you don't have one for a couple years, the next one's not going to be any worse."

And that's why Weller said doing something as simple as keeping rooftops and yards clear of potential fuel during these quiet years can go a long way in protecting life and property when fire returns.

These freezing temperatures could contribute to a wildfire threat by killing off brush, therefore creating more fuel in the coming weeks.

We're fortunate the ground is still wet from a round of rain which hit before the cold front. If not for that, the winds that have been blowing could easily cause the smallest of fires to grow.