Fire season will be arriving soon, and for now the projection for the Columbia River Gorge is for a normal season.  Kiel Nairns of The Dalles Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry says the predictions are still coming together.  He noted winter precipitation started late, but it picked up to give Mt. Hood a good snowpack, and there has been some spring rain, and that will hopefully lead to a shorter fire season.  A number of factors are used to determine fire season expectations, including weather predictions, snowpack, overall precipitation, and drought indicators.  Washington Department of Natural Resources officials told reporters in Seattle on Tuesday they are expecting an increased potential for significant fires earlier in the season than last year.  Property owners in the urban-wildland interface are encouraged to prepare for fire season by taking steps to protect their homes.  Information is available at firewise.org.