MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The National Weather Service has posted what it calls a Red Flag wildfire warning for Middle Tennessee and local fire departments are cautioning that the threat is significant.
The Weather Service says dry conditions, extremely low humidity, and forecast high winds mean that any outdoor fire could get quickly out of hand.
Teh mid-state is expecting strong winds today gusting up to 30 miles an hour.
The Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Ashley McDonald says the city has placed a total ban outdoor burning.
“Of course, they have to obtain permission on a daily basis anyway from our office if they’re going to do any outdoor burning in the city, and we just want to make sure that they definitely do not do that today, because a fire could get out of control very quickly with the conditions we’ve got going on.”
McDonald says mid-state residents also need to be especially careful about discarding cigarettes.
There’s rain in the forecast for this weekend, which should considerably reduce the risk.