National Weather Service offices in Michigan today are warning residents of an elevated fire danger thanks to a combination of factors including gusting wind and dry air.
The office in Grand Rapids reports, "If a wildfire was to start today, it would be expected to spread very quickly due to the dry and windy conditions."
The office in Marquette, which covers most of the Upper Peninsula, has issued a red-flag warning about the dry and windy conditions.
Meteorologists in Gaylord also attribute the danger to a rapid drying of vegetation and "surface fuels" such as pine straw and sticks.
The Grand Rapids office offers some safety tips:
• Do not throw burning materials such as cigarettes out of car windows.
• Properly extinguish all outdoor fires.
• Do not throw live charcoal on the ground. Dunk charcoal in water.
• Do not leave a fire unattended.