The Weather Channel has issued an alert FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS EXIST FOR THE AREA … Mar 31, 2016 7:01AM
…FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS EXIST FOR PARTS OF THE AREA TODAY and longer……
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY
COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON ANY FIRE STARTS. THE GREATEST CONCERN
WILL EXIST THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EASTWARD
ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF VERMONT. LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY YESTERDAY
AND TODAY WILL CONTINUE TO HELP DRY FINE DEAD FUELS SUCH AS
GRASS…LEAVES…AND TWIGS. IN ADDITION…WITH THE LACK OF SNOW
COVER TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THIS TIME OF YEAR…
MORE OF THIS FUEL IS AVAILABLE TO BURN. IF A FIRE STARTS IN THESE
DRY CONDITIONS IT MAY QUICKLY GET OUT OF CONTROL AS SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS IN THE 25 TO 35 MPH RANGE WITH LOCALIZED
GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED. FORESTRY OFFICIALS IN VERMONT
SUGGEST ANY OPENING BURNING IS NOT ADVISED TODAY. AND AS A
REMINDER IN NEW YORK STATE…THERE IS A BAN ON OPEN BURNING
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MAY.
We hope all sugaring operations are well-aware of the dangerous potential of what a fire out of control could mean for nearly everywhere in the northeast this year! i recently heard of a sugaring operation in a sugar house that caught some brush on fire from sparks perhaps from the chimney? Please note that this year is different due to the lack of snow and the ground being MUCH drier could quickly allow a fire to get WAY out of control and cause a MAJOR Fire like what happens out west. It could be worse here because we have so much underbrush and tinder on the ground that they do not allow out there. Our forests could produce a disastrous situation that we do not want to experience!
If you are still sugaring, please keep a means to put out a fire should even a small one start. It might be time to pull the taps. For backyard operation it is definitely time to pull the taps. This threat is serious. It’s just too dangerous to but outside! Please heed this ban on burning!
On top of it, there has been thunder heard in Vermont today. Fires from lightning are another problem to be aware of…
Read about safety and willdfires at: https://weather.com/safety
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