Red Flag Warning in Effect for NH as Dry Air, Wind Create Ideal Fire Conditions

A combination of dry air and gusty winds has prompted the National Weather Service to declare a Red Flag Warning for most of the Seacoast on Friday.

The office in Gray, Maine, is expecting wind gusts up to 30 mph on Friday, and relative humidity falling into the 25 to 30 percent range. Combined with dead and dry vegetation, there is potential for the fast spread of a fire.

The warning is in effect between noon and 7 p.m. and includes all of Rockingham and Strafford Counties in New Hampshire. There is also an elevated fire danger for southern Maine.

Burning Permits Canceled

The City of Dover and the Town of East Kingston have canceled all burning permits for Friday because of the warning.

"Fires will take off in a hurry," East KIngston Fire Chief Ed Warren told Seacoast Current. "...they'll be keeping an extra eye out for any smoke that they see." He said that the state and county fire towers are triangulated and will also be looking for any smoke.

"If they see any smoke rising, they'll be communicating with each other. They can tell exactly where it is and can notify that town," Warren said.

Warren said that people should not cook outside on Friday, and campfires should not be left unattended.  Campfires along with cigarettes and other smoking material should  be properly extinguished.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH