The National Weather Service is warning that there is an elevated risk of fire spread in portions of the Mid Atlantic today. All of New Jersey and Delaware, much of the eastern two-thirds of Pennsylvania and Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Northern Virginia has been issued a Special Weather Statement by the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of this fire danger.
The NWS says minimum humidity values will fall to between 20 and 30 percent in this region; combined with northwesterly winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph will make conditions ripe for the spread of fire. The continued drying of the fine fuels will also support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control.
“Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged,” the NWS warns, adding, “Be sure to properly extinguish or dispose of any potential ignition sources, including smoking materials such as cigarette butts.” The NWS encourages people in these impacted regions to refer to their state’s forest fire management agency for more information on burn restrictions for their local area.
Fires also continue to burn across portions of Long Island, New York, prompting the Governor there to declare an emergency. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and said state agencies were responding to the fires around the Pine Barrens, a wooded area that is home to commuter towns east of New York City on Long Island. In remarks to the press, she said homes, a chemical factory, and an Amazon warehouse were at risk from the fire. Some neighborhoods have faced evacuations and more may be needed today. Firefighters there said the fires on Long Island are 50% contained as of this morning.
