(RALEIGH) -- Drought conditions throughout the State, combined with wind gusts have proven to be a damaging and deadly combination.

Wildfires in North Carolina have burned thousands of acres, damaged or destroyed scores of structures, and claimed the life of one man in Hoke County. This past weekend nearly 300 wildfires across the state scorched almost 3000 acres.

In North Raleigh, residents at Wakefield Plantation are recovering after battling a huge brush fire Saturday afternoon. Falls Fire Chief Chris Wilson said a number of units were involved in battling the blaze at its peak. "Forty-some fire related [responders], five different ambulances and EMS [were called] to the scene." Homeowners grabbed garden hoses and did pitched in to help the firefighters, and also to protect their homes.

In western North Carolina the Jude’s Gap fire, near the Chimney Rock State Park, started last weekend. Officials announced Sunday that the Judes Gap Fire in Polk and Rutherford counties, which firefighters battled for nine days, is mostly contained.

The National Weather Service Monday issued a fire danger alert for Person, Granville, Vance, Halifax, Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Franklin, Nash, Edgecombe, Davidson, Randolph, Chatham, Wake, Johnston, Wilson, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Wayne, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland and Sampson counties.

Dry conditions and breezy winds with gusts up to 30 miles per hour increase the fire danger today. Humidity readings will remain relatively low at around 30 to 35 percent. Weather and fire officials are asking people not to burn any materials into later in the week.