DENVER -- Wildfire danger in Colorado is moderate, but experts warn it could change rapidly.

The Southeastern portion of the state however is listed as having a “very high” fire danger.

“We have above average fire potential for eastern plains of Colorado,” said Tim Mathewson with the Rocky Mountain Fire Coordination Center.

Statewide, Mathewson said this year will be worse than last.

"There is going to be a spike up,” said Mathewson. “We have already burned over 35,000 acres in Colorado up to this point, where last year up to this point we had 858 acres burn.”

Since several early fires in Southern Colorado, such as in Ordway, fire officials said this season has been pretty quiet. And unlike what some people think, it has nothing to do with the above average snowfall this past winter.

“The winter snow pack is not that much of a determiner of our wild fire season,” said Geoff Bell, Fire Management Officer. “It is more determined by summer weather conditions and lightening storms and rain.”

But whatever lies ahead, Colorado Forest Service personnel and fire fighters are ready. At the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, the Air Tanker Base has fire retardant mixed and on-hand for the first call.

“We do feel we are ready,” said Bell.

But unlike years in the past, an air tanker will not be stationed at the airport. Officials said accidents during the 2002 fire season grounded more than a dozen aging planes.

“We will have approximately 24 air tankers for the whole nation where we used to have a fleet of 42,” said Mark Michelson, Air Tanker Base Manager. “So there is going to be a little bit of a shortage.”

Even though a large air tanker will not be stationed at the Air Tanker Base, three single-engine air tankers will be positioned throughout the state.