Portsmouth Suspends Recreational Burning, Warns of Extreme Fire Risk

The Portsmouth Fire Department has suspended all recreational burning beginning today through tomorrow at noon due to the extreme fire danger caused by dry and windy conditions.

Portsmouth Fire Deputy Chief Michael P. O’Brien said that along with recreational burning, people need to be extremely careful with smoking materials. A carelessly tossed cigarette can cause a brush fire.

Firefighters are concerned that even a small brush fire outside a building could rapidly spread to structures due to the wind gusts.

“Business and home owners should take great care to extinguish all smoking materials with water. Vegetation and landscaping materials in close proximity to buildings should be monitored for any sign of fire,” O’Brien said.

The department has also temporarily suspended all open burning permits.

The Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service covers all of Rhode Island.

Winds are expected to reach 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Humidity will be a low 30 percent.

“These conditions already combined with existing dry conditions will create extremely dangerous fire conditions. Any fire that does start will spread rapidly and will be difficult to extinguish,” O’Brien said.