The woods are tinder dry in East Tennessee and foresters are concerned that fireworks could start wildfires.

District Forester Ted Dailey said the lingering effects of drought, coupled with a recent lack of rainfall make forested areas vulnerable to fire.

Forestry Division records show wildfires have burned about 14,000 acres in Tennessee in the first half of this year. More than 12,000 of those charred acres lie in East Tennessee.

Forestry officials say shooting fireworks into fields of dry grass or into the woods could spark fires.

They recommend people using fireworks keep water handy to douse any flames that spring up.

The National Weather Service says eastern counties remain in moderate to severe drought condition.