Fire Danger Sparks Alert In Northern Virginia Saturday

VIRGINIA— Fire danger is running high Saturday in northern Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. The combination of gusty winds and low humidity will heighten the potential for fires to start and spread, officials said.

"Humidity will drop below 30 percent across most of the region by this afternoon, with sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph," the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement Saturday morning.

"The combination of gusty winds and low humidity may allow small fires to rapidly grow if they escape control," officials said. "Anyone with outdoor plans involving fire should use extreme caution today."

During times of high fire danger, grasses and needles will easily ignite and campfires and brush fires may turn uncontrollable unless put out while still small, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The forest service recommends the following amid high fire danger:

• Postpone burning a debris pile.
• Don't put a campfire in a grassy area.
• Take extra precautions if using equipment that could produce sparks.
• Reconsider riding an off-highway vehicle in a grassy area.

The hazardous weather outlook for fire danger applies to northern and central Virginia, including Ablemarle, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, King George, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, Nelson, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren.

The District of Columbia, parts of central and western Maryland and eastern West Virginia were also included in the hazardous weather outlook area.

Sunday will not present as great a fire danger because winds will not be as strong, according to the weather service.