National Weather Service Warns of Dangerous Fire Conditions

Within the right environment, a small fire can spread rapidly. When threatening fire conditions are present in an area, the National Weather Service (NWS) can issue one of two warnings.

This weekend, the NWS has implemented a Red Flag Warning for parts of five different states as high winds, low humidity and mild or warm temperatures could lead to life-threatening situations.

What is a Red Flag Warning?

The most severe fire-related alert the NWS has, a Red Flag Warning is announced when "the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger" and these conditions "are expected to occur or are occurring within the next 24 hours."

"These products are written for land and fire managers to highlight the increased fire danger," the NWS says.

Which states are affected by the Red Flag Warning?

Five states are named in the warning: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Almost the entire state of Nebraska is covered by the alert, along with significant portions of Wyoming. The Red Flag Warning for these states, plus parts of north central Kansas, runs through late Saturday or into Sunday morning, depending on location.

Fire zones 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229 and 230 in Colorado are under a Red Flag Warning all day and night Saturday, while fire zones 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 329, 331, 332 and 333 in South Dakota are under a Red Flag Warning until 9 p.m. tonight.

"A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly," the warning reads. "A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior."

More fire safety tips

If you live in one of the territories named in the red flag warnings, obviously do not light a fire outside under these conditions.

However, if you're going to go camping down the road anywhere in America, take a look at some important campfire safety guidelines, courtesy of Men's Journal.