‘Outdoor burning is not recommended’: DC area under red flag warning, increased risk of fires

Wednesday’s forecast put the D.C. area at a heightened risk for rapidly-spreading fires, with dry conditions, low humidity and strong winds.

Most of the D.C. metro was under a Red Flag warning from the National Weather Service, which expired at 7 p.m. The impacted areas include D.C. and counties west of Interstate 95.

NWS puts out those warnings when “warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger,” NWS said.

Red Flag Warnings have been expanded to include areas just west of I-95 and the lee of the Alleghenies. Wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph, strongest across the north, low humidities, and dry antecedent conditions could lead to the rapid spread of wildfires. #DCwx #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/rBz9Ge7Ur8

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) March 26, 2025

In Gaithersburg, Maryland, a small brush fire broke out around 3:55 p.m. Wednesday, extending from the intersection of Brink and Wightman roads toward the Great Seneca Stream Valley Park.

In a post on X, David Pazos with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said at least 45 emergency responders were on the scene extinguishing the continuous fire around 5 p.m. He said there is no danger to nearby residential areas but traffic delays may occur.

https://t.co/JIBhKHdU9y pic.twitter.com/QDGrS7XQgh

— Pazos@mcfrsPIO (@DavidPazos15) March 26, 2025

Temperatures were in the 50s on Wednesday but wind gusts were be in the 25-30 mph range throughout most of the afternoon.

“Any fire that starts today, can spread quickly. So outdoor burning is not recommended,” 7News First Alert Meteorologist Jordan Evans said.

NWS has suggested the following tips to prevent fires:

• If you’re in an area where you’re allowed to burn, make sure burn barrels are covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch
• Don’t throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle — if thrown on dry grass, those items could ignite and cause a wildfire
• Put out all outdoor fires
• Never leave a fire unattended

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The winds will ease Wednesday evening, but it’ll be colder with temperatures falling through the 50s and 40s, and 30s overnight.

Sunshine will come back on Thursday for the Washington Nationals’ opening regular-season game of the 2025 campaign with temperatures around 60 degrees.

Friday will be cloudy with temperatures in the upper 60s. Saturday is another cloudy day, but temperatures will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s, which could be the warmest day of the year so far.

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