Parts of North Carolina’s northwest Piedmont spent Monday on wildfire watch, as a National Weather Service alert warned that gusty winds, bone-dry air and parched vegetation could turn even a tiny spark into a fast-moving blaze.
The alert zeroed in on Stokes, Rockingham, Caswell and Yadkin counties and said elevated fire danger would last through Monday evening. Local officials cautioned that everyday activities, from mowing a field to dropping a cigarette, could be enough to light off trouble in these conditions.
What the National Weather Service warned
The Blacksburg office of the National Weather Service said in a Special Weather Statement that “Increased fire danger conditions exist today due to the combination of extremely dry fuels, gusty winds, and low relative humidity,” and that the alert would remain in effect through 8 p.m. Monday.
The statement urged residents and visitors to be extra careful with anything that can throw a spark: properly dispose of cigarette butts and matches, avoid running equipment that might create sparks, and keep vehicles off dry grass and leaf piles. The idea is simple, and right now crucial, cut down on human-caused ignitions during this high-risk window.
Statewide burn ban and recent fires
The N.C. Forest Service already has a statewide open-burning ban in place that canceled all burning permits starting at 6 p.m. on March 28 and will stay in effect until conditions improve, according to the N.C. Forest Service…