Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek addressed a group of reporters Friday to detail the state’s response to a series of wildfires this month. “Our wildfire season is off to a very aggressive start,” Kotek said. This year, the governor has already declared five emergency conflagrations in response to various fires, which allows the state to use its resources to protect life and property. Oregon has been no stranger to increasingly numerous and destructive wildfires in recent years, which scientists say is a by-product of human-caused climate change. This year, though, the fires are starting earlier than expected and spreading quickly, a worrying sign as the wildfire season nears its traditional peak in August. Most of the major wildfires this season have been human-caused. The most common cause is people burning debris around their home, and embers escaping to surrounding areas. Loose tow chains and gas-powered lawn mowers can also spark a fire.