Red Flag fire alert today and tomorrow

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is
calling for a Red Flag Fire Alert for Wednesday and
Thursday, April 21 and 22. The alert will go into effect
Wednesday at 7 a.m. The alert is being issued to discourage people from burning  outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. The weather forecast statewide over the next two days calls for stronger-than-normal wind gusts and low relative humidity, creating the potential for outdoor fires to
escape easily and spread rapidly. The alert is likely to be
lifted after Thursday when relative humidity rises and overall
fire danger abates.
“With the National Weather Service predicting steady winds
at 15-20 mph and relative humidity values as low as 25%, we
really want to ask people to consider postponing their
outdoor burning until the weekend when conditions
improve,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “Low relative
humidity presents enough wildfire risk on its own, but when
coupled with sustained winds for two consecutive days, the need for vigilance is very much
heightened.”
A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local
regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission strongly encourages citizens to
voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. However, a Red Flag Fire Alert
does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should
contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas.
The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will
continuously monitor the situation