DENVER -- Forest rangers aren’t sure if the mild July weather is to be thanked or blamed for a surge in human-caused wildfires.

On one hand, U.S Forest Service personnel point to the mild weather as a reason for people to be carelessly abandoning campfires before they are completely out.

But on the other, the abundance of moisture has retarded the blazes from raging out of control before fire crews could extinguish them.

Regardless, the upsurge in fires started by neglected campfires is a disturbing trend for the U.S. Forest Service.

“We always have a lot of abandoned campground fires but not so many at one time,” Pike National Forest spokesman Barbara Timock said. “There are plenty of campfires that have gotten away and caused big fires in the past, certainly in the Pike National Forest.”

Timock said fire managers discovered over 20 unattended campfires in July in and around the Salida area alone. Five of those fires leapt past the fire ring boundaries and began wildfires.

Timock said all of the moisture that has fallen in July prevented the blazes from growing more than an acre.

Chris Naccarato, Mountain Zone Fire Management Officer, said unattended fires can still smolder and be active, long after they seem out.

Campers are advised to douse the fire with water and stir the ashes until no more heat can be felt.

The fire danger is currently moderate across much of Colorado, Timock said.