Red Flag Warning Issued for Southern New Hampshire Amid Rising Fire Danger
MANCHESTER, N.H. — The National Weather Service has declared a Red Flag Warning for southern New Hampshire, signaling heightened fire danger due to unusually dry conditions. The warning raises alarms for uncontrollable outdoor fires, following a series of brush fires that have recently occurred in the region.
"It’s just been so dry. It doesn’t take anything to get one going," stated Chief Bob Moore of the South Hampton Fire Department. He emphasized the urgent need for rain as firefighters responded to a significant brush fire near the bird sanctuary on Woodman Road, which spanned approximately 1.2 acres. Local police, fire, and state forestry units were able to contain the blaze relatively quickly, although crews spent considerable time extinguishing residual hot spots.
Despite the containment efforts, the fire impacted dry leaf litter and dead stumps and trees in the area, as noted by Assistant Chief Tyler Morrill. The South Hampton Fire Department is currently on high alert, as multiple brush fires have emerged across the region, prompting a collaborative response from local and neighboring states’ fire departments. Moore reflected on the coordination, mentioning assistance provided to Massachusetts in combating a significant 150-acre fire.
According to the U.S. drought monitor, a substantial portion of southern New Hampshire is experiencing moderate drought conditions. Moore urges residents to heed the fire danger warnings and avoid outdoor burning, emphasizing that even small sparks could lead to rapid spread. "Everything on the side of the road is very dry, and it’s going to catch, and it’s going to spread quickly," he warned.
Fire crews are set to reassess damage from the recent brush fire on Friday morning, as the community remains vigilant in the face of this ongoing threat.
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