Fire Danger Threat Increased on Friday: Weather Service

Be careful if lighting anything or using machinery on Friday, weather officials advised.

There is an enhanced fire danger threat due to low humidities and gusty winds until 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Those discarding smoking materials should be especially cautious, as there is potential for fire to spread quickly.

The weather service issued a special weather statement alerting citizens to the enhanced fire danger in these areas:

• Anne Arundel
• Baltimore
• Calvert
• Carroll
• Charles
• Frederick
• Harford
• Howard
• Montgomery
• Prince George's
• St. Marys

Here is the full text of the special weather statement from the National Weather Service:

...ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THREAT TODAY... COMBINATION OF DRYING FUELS...VERY LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO AN ENHANCED FIRE WEATHER THREAT TODAY. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP BETWEEN 15 AND 20 PERCENT AND SUSTAINED WINDS WILL BE BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH. DRY FUEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 5 TO 8 PERCENT. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION HANDLING ANY POTENTIAL IGNITION SOURCE...INCLUDING MACHINERY...CIGARETTES...AND MATCHES. BE SURE TO PROPERLY DISCARD ALL SMOKING MATERIALS. ANY DRY GRASSES AND TREE LITTER THAT IGNITE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD QUICKLY. MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED THAT OPEN BURNING IS PROHIBITED BY LAW BEFORE 4 PM...5 PM FOR WEST VIRGINIA.

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