A fire warning is in effect for part of Pennsylvania until Friday evening

At 9:53 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Blair, Huntingdon, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Perry and Dauphin for Friday between noon and 7 p.m was valid in Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York and Lancaster Counties.

Residents can expect westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts of up to 30 mph and relative humidity as low as 25 to 30 percent.

“The wildfires are expected to grow and spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended,” the weather service added.

What is the meaning of a warning message?

A red flag warning indicates that extreme fire weather conditions are either currently occurring or will occur soon, according to the weather service. Warm temperatures, very low humidity and stronger winds are expected to combine to create an increased risk of rapid fire spread.

So what steps should you follow if you receive an alert?

When alerted, it is critical to exercise extreme caution and be prepared to take immediate action if a fire breaks out. The Weather Service offers you the following measures to reduce the risk of fire and ensure your safety:

1. Bolster Burn Barrel Safety:

• In areas where controlled burning is permitted, ensure burn barrels have a heavy metal cover with holes no larger than 3/4 inch.

2. Careful handling of smoking materials:

• Never throw away lit cigarette butts outdoors or throw cigarettes or matches from a moving vehicle. These seemingly small actions can cause dry grass to ignite, potentially starting a wildfire.

3. Prudent firefighting practices:

• To protect yourself from accidental fires, carefully extinguish all outdoor fires. Pour plenty of water over them and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Submerge the charcoal in water until it cools completely. Never throw glowing charcoal on the ground.

4. Never leave fire unattended:

• Avoid leaving the fire unattended. Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, starting a fire that spreads quickly.

To reduce the risk of wildfires in these dangerous conditions, it is critical to understand the severity of an alert and follow these precautions. Prioritize safety, stay informed and act responsibly to protect life and property.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.