Red Flag Raised for Third Straight Day

Prince George's County and most of Maryland are under a red flag warning Monday, meaning conditions are ideal for the potential start and spread of wildfires.

The National Weather Service projects that low humidity (20 to 30 percent), brisk winds (15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph), and low fuel moisture (3 to 6 percent) will present a high risk from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday is the third straight day a red flag warning has been issued across the area.

The Prince George's County Fire Department has issued the following safety tips in light of the forecast:

• Dispose of smoking materials in an appropriate container and ensure they are completely extinguished. Do not discard these items into any open area as they may start a fire that will spread rapidly. Do not dispose of smoking materials out of your vehicle when traveling.
• Business owners and property managers should have appropriate containers that include water in areas where smoking occurs outside so materials can be disposed of safely.
• Do not burn brush or trash ever without appropriate approval.
• Be extremely careful and pay full-time attention if you will use outside grills or cooking equipment during these times. If you cook outside, ensure you have some type of extinguishing agent nearby (water hose, bucket of sand, fire extinguisher, etc.). Never leave the grill unattended.
• If you have fireplace ashes, you must put them into a sealed metal container placed on a concrete surface away from any structures. If possible, wait to clean your fireplace until this weather event is over.
• Workers using power tools that generate sparks need to mindful that a fire could ignite from those sparks. Wet down brush areas before working.
• Use common sense and practice sound fire safety habits.