LANSING- The risk of forest fires has shot up, but could be brought down by new technologies.

Rebecca Humphries, director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), says that the state's forests face a more dangerous fire season than in previous years because of changing weather and state budget problems.

"We're coming off a decade of above-average rainfall and we're at all-time low numbers for forest fire officers. We're scared, quite frankly, going into this fire season," said Humphries. 

She also said that the state's inconsistent snow patterns could make things worse. "When we have snowmelt that occurs and we have the entire state without green-up, that's our highest fire danger."

Green-up refers to the time when grass and plants leaf out after the winter.

However, the state does have measures in place for both preventing and fighting blazes.

One is the Roscommon Equipment Center, run by DNR and the National Association of State Foresters. Workers at the facility create a variety of specialized firefighting equipment, from modified military surplus vehicles to new tools and devices made from other equipment.

Kirk Bradley, administrator of the center, said that every year provides a new challenge.  

"You never can tell what might come from this fire season. Someone might come up with a great idea that gives us some design work," Bradley said.

Some of the center's past projects could alleviate the problem of maintaining enough forest fire responders.

For example, facility technicians redeveloped a water cannon that can be operated from within a vehicle. The cost of the device: just over $1,000.

DNR is also using the Internet to more effectively help the public prevent forest fires.

Residents who want a permit to burn debris on their property can now apply online through a Web site that also tells them the fire danger level of the day. The system denies permits on high-danger days.

The system is available in some counties in the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula.

Don Johnson, a fire management specialist for the department, says that the Web site is "an enforcement tool to make sure people are taking that step and checking with us, and making sure they know the fire danger before they go out and burn."

Johnson said the state also relies on the public to help combat fires.

"It's definitely a cooperative thing. We truly do rely on people voluntarily following the rules, making sure they're safe," said Johnson.

Bill Sedlacek, a member of the board of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and chief of the Grand Traverse Rural Fire Department, says the most important way to prevent fires is simple:

"Common sense: Burn in an approved container and don't burn when there are red-flag days. Common sense tells you not to burn when it's extremely dry and windy."