Fire danger high on Shore, weather service warns

Residents across Eastern Shore are being warned of heightened fire danger Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia, says low relative humidity and winds expected this afternoon will increase the risk of fire on the lower Eastern Shore and on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Southwest winds will gust up to 20 to 30 mph while relative humidity values drop into the 15 to 20 percent range, the weather service said.

These conditions combined with dry fine fuels, such as dead leaves and grasses, will increase the risk for rapid fire spread, it warned.

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Outdoor burning is highly discouraged and 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.

Virginia residents are reminded that open air burning is prohibited across the state before 4 p.m. through April 30.